Udupi: Man gets 20-year jail for sexual assault on minor girl
Mangaluru (PTI): The Udupi district additional and sessions court (POCSO court) has sentenced a 32-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on charges of sexual assault on a minor girl in Kota police limits four years ago.
Judge Srinivasa Suvarna found A Ashok, resident of Balakudru in Brahmavar taluk of Udupi district, guilty of the crime based on evidence provided by the police and sentenced him to 20 years rigorous imprisonment besides slapping a fine of Rs 23,000 on him.
According to the charge sheet, the man had befriended a 15-year-old minor girl and one day, on the pretext of dropping her off to school in his car forced himself on her and took her into a house of another accused.
He sexually abused the minor girl and dropped her back home. He also threatened and warned her against disclosing the act to anyone.
The girl revealed the matter to family members, who lodged a complaint with the police. An investigation was conducted by the then Deputy SP Jaishankar, who submitted the charge sheet to the POCSO court.
The court directed that Rs 13,000 of the fine amount be paid to the victim. The court also directed the government to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the girl.
The court, however, acquitted the other accused in the case for want of evidence. Advocates Y T Raghavendra and Harishchandra appeared for the prosecution.
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Shivamogga: Villagers hold candlelight protest over student Sanket’s murder
Shivamogga: Residents of Sulebailu in Urugadur, on the outskirts of Shivamogga city, staged a candlelight protest on Wednesday night condemning the murder of student Sanket, which occurred three days ago.
Villagers cutting across caste and religious lines gathered on the streets holding placards with Sanket’s photograph and lit candles as a mark of tribute. They raised slogans condemning the killing and appealed for peace in the area.
Locals alleged that the root cause of Sanket's murder was rampant drug trafficking and illegal liquor shops in the area. The villagers demanded that such anti-social elements preying on innocent youth be stopped.
During the protest, locals again alleged that rampant drug trafficking and illegal liquor sales in the locality were among the reasons behind the incident. They demanded strict action against those involved and called upon authorities to curb the illegal sale of ganja and alcohol, which they claimed was misleading youth and school students in the region.
The protesters later met Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kariappa and submitted a memorandum urging immediate measures to control illegal activities.
Sanket (16), an SSLC student of Government High School at Uragadur, was allegedly assaulted outside his school by a group of boys when he intervened in an argument over their cricket match. He was rushed to a hospital but declared dead. Seven minors have reportedly been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
