Udupi: The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), Fast Track Court in Udupi sentenced a youngster to life imprisonment for sexually abusing a minor girl about three years ago in Karkala.

The court under Udupi’s District Additional and Sessions Court pronounced the judgment on February 7, Tuesday.

According to the reports, the accused, Radhakrishna (26) of Venur in Belthangady taluk had befriended the victim girl on the popular social media platform Instagram before sexually harassing her.

A case in this regard was registered three years ago at Karkala Rural Police Station and court proceedings were underway.

According to the police investigation, Radhakrishna entered the house of the minor girl when she was alone at home and induced the girl with his prate and sexually abused her later. The case was also lodged against the accused under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Judge Srinivasa Suvarna, who examined 18 witnesses, opined that the allegations against the accused are valid and sentenced him to life imprisonment along with an Rs. 10,000 fine. Y.T. Raghavendra, the Public Prosecutor, argued for the prosecution.

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New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.

The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.

In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.

"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.

It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.

The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.

The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.

The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.

The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.