Court convicts man in rape case
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 18 2023: Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Crime against Women Manipur on Friday convicted one Sounaojam Bocha (27), who concealed his real identity and raped a woman on June 5, 2012 .

According to the report submitted by the prosecution, on June 8, 2012, a complaint was hied at Lamlai police station, stating that the victim left her house around 1.50pm on June 5 to buy some clothes from Imphal.

However, she failed to return home even after 5pm.While the family was trying to locate her whereabouts, the victim's brother received a call around 9pm informing that the girl was in the custody of Sarmila Kanba Lup, Salanthong.

On receiving the information, the family immediately rushed to Salanthong and met the Lup members, who informed that they found the victim in an unconscious state and took her into custody.

When the victim was questioned, she conveyed that she was on her way to Imphal when she met one Heikrujam Prem of Uripok, a driver of 7AR .

Prem took her to Taj Restaurant in Mantripukhri and made her drink a juice, following which she lost consciousness and he (Prem) sexually assaulted her without her consent.

When she regained her senses, she found herself in Salanthong area without her gold necklace and earrings.

The victim s father tried to trace the whereabouts of the accused Heikrujam Prem but could not find him.

Based on the complaint, Lamlai PS registered a case and investigated the origin of Prem, whose real identity was found to be one Sounaojam Bocha (27) s/o (L) Iboton of Yumnam Khunou.

On August 1, 2015, the case was given cognizance and CJM Imphal East transferred the case to Sessions Judge Imphal East on October 25, 2017 .

On July 11, 2018, Sessions Judge Imphal East transferred the case to Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court) Crime against Women Manipur, where the trial commenced.

On April 29,2019, the court framed charges against Sounaojam Bocha underSection 375/419 (Rape/ Punishment for cheating by personation) of IPC.

During the trial, the prosecution produced 11 witnesses while the defence failed to produce any witness.

After listening to the submissions of the prosecution and the defence, the court declared Bocha guilty of the charges levelled against him.

It then fixed the sentence hearing on November 24 .

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