Mangaluru: The Additional District and Sessions Court, FTSC-2 POCSO Special Court, Judge Manu K. S., on Wednesday sentenced accused K.S. Keshav Poojary (43) to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl in Kalkaje Dondole, Dharmasthala village, Belthangady. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 55,000 on the accused.

According to sources, the accused, K.S. Keshav Poojary, was a neighbor of the victim and frequently visited her house. He raped the girl despite her objections when nobody was at the house. Later, the girl's mother noticed swelling in her daughter's leg and took her to the hospital, accompanied by the accused. During the medical examination, it was discovered that the girl was five months pregnant.

The accused immediately pressured the girl to conceal his identity and instructed her to name someone else as the perpetrator. Fearing his threats, the girl initially provided a false name.

However, after receiving counseling and regaining her courage, she revealed that Keshav Poojary was responsible for her pregnancy. Based on her statement, the Dharmasthala police arrested the accused. Police Inspector Nagesh K. filed a charge sheet against him.

Although the girl underwent an abortion, DNA testing of the fetal material, along with blood samples from the girl and the accused, confirmed that Keshav Poojary was the biological father.

The trial judge sentenced Keshav Poojary to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50,000 under Sections 376(2)(n), 376(3), and section 6 of the POCSO Act for the rape.

Additionally, he was sentenced to three months of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5,000 under Section 506 for criminal intimidation. The court ordered the accused to pay a total of Rs. 55,000 to the victim. Furthermore, the District Legal Services Authority was directed to provide additional compensation of Rs. 6,45,000 to the girl under the Victims' Compensation Scheme.

Special Public Prosecutor K. Badrinath Nayari represented the government in the case.

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Hyderabad: A 15-year-old girl, Aliya Begum, lost her life after being attacked with stones while trying to protect her father from a mob lynching. The incident took place in Antarum village, Zaheerabad, Telangana. Police have arrested two accused in connection with the case.

What happened?

Muhammad Ismail, a resident of Antarum village in Zaheerabad, was allegedly urinating near the house of Veera Reddy and Vijay Reddy. This led to an altercation between them, after which Veera Reddy, Vijay Reddy, and around 40 others attacked Ismail.

Seeing her father being assaulted, Aliya intervened to protect him. However, the attackers pelted stones at her as well. Aliya sustained severe injuries and was hospitalised. After fighting for her life for three days, she succumbed to her injuries on February 15.

Initially, Aliya's parents had not filed a complaint. However, lawyers Afsar Jahan and Sujat approached the Superintendent of Police (SP) and provided details of the incident, following which a case was registered against the accused.

What did the police say?

Zaheerabad DSP P. Satthayya stated that the attack took place on February 11 when a verbal altercation over Muhammad Ismail urinating near a house escalated into a physical assault. Vijay Reddy and Veera Reddy, along with others, attacked Ismail. When Aliya intervened to save her father, the mob pelted stones at her.

Aliya was also suffering from cancer, which was discovered during the investigation. Her family had not informed hospital staff about the attack. Villagers later reported the incident to the police. Following a post-mortem, Aliya’s body was handed over to her family. Two accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Demand for strict action against the accused

The incident has left the entire village in shock, with many demanding strict and immediate action against the accused.

Local MLA Kausar Mohiuddin, who visited the victim's family, stated that this brutal attack was not just on Aliya and her father but on the entire community. Amjadullah Khan of the ‘Majlis Bachao Tehreek’ demanded a judicial inquiry under a High Court judge, the arrest of all accused, ₹25 lakh compensation for the victim’s family, a government job for a family member, and housing under the Indiramma Housing Scheme.