Convicted under POCSO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 09 2026: Yumkham Rothar, Session Judge, Imphal West, today convicted 32-year-old Ningthou- jam Ramesh Singh alias Tondonba under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for sexually assaulting a minor girl under the jurisdiction of Sekmai Police Station in November 2021 .

The Court fixed September 11 for the sentence hearing to determine the quantum of punishment to be awarded to the convict.

The case was registered against Ramesh, son of N Lokhon Singh of Awang Wabagai Maning Leikai, based on a complaint lodged by the uncle of the minor victim.

The complaint stated that the victim was sexually assaulted by the convict multiple times on November 13 and 14, 2021, in a rented room.

The incident occurred in the absence of the victim's father.

The convict was arrested by a team of Sekmai police on November 19, 2021, in connection with the case.

During the investigation, the Investigating Officer (IO) found that the incidents had taken place at two different locations viz inside the rented room where the victim's family was staying and inside the cabin of a Tata Dipper.

The IO, Women Sub-Inspector Babita Thongram, completed the investigation and submitted a chargesheet against the convict under Section 6 of the POCSO Act on April 28, 2022 .

The charge was framed against the convict for the offence punishable under Section 6 of the POCSO Act on June 18, 2022 .

The convict pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

To prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt, the prosecution produced 12 witnesses, 29 documentary exhibits and 20 material exhibits before the Court.

The convict did not produce any witness in his defence.

During the arguments, the Court heard Special Public Prosecutor A Gopendro appearing for the State and the defence counsel for the convict.

The Special PP submitted that the charge against the convict had been proved.

He further submitted that the victim's deposition was sufficient to convict Ramesh and referred to the medical evidence, which he said corroborated the prosecution case.

On the other hand, the defence counsel submitted that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

After hearing both sides, the Court observed that the convict had committed penetrative sexual assault on the victim and that the assault had taken place more than once.

The Court held that the ingredients of Section 5(I) of the POCSO Act had been fully established and found the convict guilty of the offence punishable under Section 6 of the Act.

Accordingly, the Court convicted Ramesh and fixed September 11 for the sentence hearing to determine the quantum of punishment.

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