By M Ahmad
Srinagar- A court here has convicted a man for raping a minor girl in Soura area of Srinagar in 2012, holding it to be “definitely crime against the society”.
According to the prosecution, police received a complaint from the girl’s father that he took his daughter for check after she complained of abdominal pain and upon tests by the doctors she was certified to be pregnant.
Upon enquiry by him and his wife, the minor girl disclosed that the person who resides in their neighborhood as tenant, namely Irshad Ahmad of Malik of Ahlan Gadwak Kokernag, raped her several times, the prosecution said based on the statement by the complainant.
After receiving the report, the prosecution said, a case (FIR No 33/2012) for the commission of offence punishable under Section 376 RPC was registered in police Station Soura and the investigation started. During investigation, it said, the victim girl’s age certificate was obtained and she was found to be 14 years old.
Subsequently, the accused was arrested and on the basis of the facts and evidence collected, it said, a charge sheet under Section 376 RPC was filed on 23 June 2012. Subsequently the trial ensued and culminated in conviction of the accused, Irshad Ahmad of Malik of Ahlan Gadwak Kokernag, at present Anchar Soura.
“It is established that accused at the time of committing heinous crime of rape with a minor girl who was studying in 4th class, was major married person living with his wife at rented room in neighbourhood of victim who used to go there for playing with younger brother of the accused who was also putting up with them there,” presiding officer of 2nd Additional Session Judge Srinagar, Renu Dogra Gupta said after hearing the counsel for accused and additional Public Prosecutor Farooq Ahmad Malik. “The accused had gagged her mouth and committed heinous and barbaric crime of rape with her there and also threaten not to disclose the same to anyone,” the court said and convicted him for the offence under 376 RPC (rape).
The accused being a major and married person, the court said, was fully aware of the consequences of his “barbaric act.
“On the other hand the victim girl, being innocent and unaware of the consequences, kept silent due to the threat given by the accused, resulting into her pregnancy. “…The (victim) might have suffered so much which cannot be expressed in words and has lost everything including honour, dignity, education etc. She became a helpless victim of a diabolic person whose only sin was that she used to go to the accused’s rented residence for playing with his younger brother…..an innocent child was made prey of lust by accused”. The Crime of this nature against the child girl is definitely a crime against the society, the court said.
“This court is of considered opinion that prosecution has successfully proved the guilt of the accused beyond any reasonable doubt. Therefore the accused is liable to be convicted for the offence punishable under Sections 376 of RPC,” the court said and sent him to Judicial custody in Central Jail Srinagar. The court has listed the case for quantum of punishment on May 31.
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