Mangaluru: Three sentenced to imprisonment in POCSO case
Mangaluru (PTI): vThe judge K M Radhakrishna also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convicted person, Dervi D'Souza, a painter from Kotekar on the outskirts of the city.
The survivor's mother, Leena Noronha, who assisted him in the crime, was also sentenced to 14 years in jail and a fine of Rs 25,000 for offence punishable under Section 17 (abetment of sexual assault) of the POCSO Act.
Another accused, Melvin D'Souza who sheltered the woman and the girl was sentenced to six months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 30,000 for failure to report the case.
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The prime accused Dervi D'Souza was also sentenced to seven years and fined Rs 25,000 under IPC section 366 (abduction) and two years for offence punishable under IPC section 343 (wrongful confinement). The sentences will run concurrently, the judge said.
According to the charge sheet, the survivor, who was aged 15, was staying with her mother in a house after the death of her father. Dervi D'Souza frequently visited the house and financially helped Leena. During one of his visits in 2016, he sexually assaulted the girl. When the victim told her mother about it, the latter backed D'Souza who was allowed to continue the assault.
When neighbours started expressing doubts, Dervi D'Souza took the girl and her mother to Melvin's house in May, 2016, where he continued the sexual assault.
On December 17, based on definite information, the district child protection unit raided the house and rescued the girl. Based on her statement, the Ullal police registered a case against the three accused persons and a charge sheet was filed after detailed investigation.
Special public prosecutor Venkataramanaswamy examined a total of 20 witnesses during trial. The judge, in his order, also directed the chairman of the district legal services authority to pay Rs 1 lakh to the survivor as compensation.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
