SRINAGAR: The Fast Track Court of Court for POSCO in Srinagar convicted a father on Saturday for sexually assaulting his minor daughter in 2021. The court, presided over by Aarti Mohan, delivered the judgment after careful consideration of arguments from Additional Public Prosecutor Muhammad Maqbool Shah and the defence counsel.
The court unequivocally stated that the prosecution had successfully established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Additionally, it confirmed the prosecution’s success in proving the offence of sexual harassment against the accused. The accused, currently on bail, is to be immediately arrested and sent to Central Jail Srinagar. The court has scheduled arguments on the quantum of punishment for December 11, 2023.
The victim, a 15-year-old girl whose identity remains confidential, had bravely filed a complaint at Police Station Nowgam in 2021. The chargesheet under FIR no 95/2021 was presented before the court on 25-08-2021, following a thorough investigation.
According to the prosecution, the convict had been subjecting his minor daughter to forced intercourse, using vulgar language, touching private parts, and issuing threats to prevent her from disclosing the abuse. The young girl, displaying immense courage, managed to escape her ordeal on July 29, 2021, seeking refuge at her maternal aunt’s house in Chadoora.
It was at her aunt’s residence that the victim disclosed the harrowing experiences she had endured for three months. Promptly, her aunt accompanied her to the police station, where they lodged a formal complaint. The police acted swiftly, arresting the father the next day and charging him under sections 354-B and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, along with sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
