Man sentenced 2 years RI in POCSO case
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 28 2024:
The Fast Track Special Court has sentenced one Pukhrambam Somananda (23) to two years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) under Section 366 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for his involvement in a crime against an underage girl, as per the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Somananda of Ningthoukhong in Bishnupur district was found guilty of the crime under sections 366/368/34 IPC and Section 4 of the POCSO Act, 2012, which deals with kidnapping, abducting, or inducing a woman to com pel her marriage.
During the sentence hearing on Friday, the special public prosecutor argued for maximum sentence as a deterrent to crimes targeting children to which the legal aid defence counsel pleaded for leniency, highlighting Somananda's age, his role as the primary breadwinner of his family, and the six months and 10 days he had already spent in judicial custody.
Considering both the gravity of the offence and the personal circumstances of the offender, special judge S Imocha sentenced Somananda to two years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000.In case of default in paying the fine, he will have to serve an additional one-month simple imprisonment.
The court acknowledged the time already served by the offender, and reduced the total sentence period to one year, five months, and 20 days, concluding on December 18, 2025.In the event of non-payment of the fine, the additional sentence would extend to January 18, 2026 .
The court also granted the victim's family the liberty to seek further compensation for rehabilitation or injury suffered, in accordance with Section 33(8) of the POCSO Act, by filing the necessary application.