Kolkata

KOLKATA: A teenager was sentenced to 20 years for raping a minor girl resulting in her pregnancy, barely 16 days after the FIR was lodged at Maniktala police station. Additional district and sessions judge, First Court, Sealdah and Special Judge under the Pocso Act, Jimut Bahan Biswas, refused to show any leniency towards the 17-year-old accused given the heinous nature of the crime. The youth has also been ordered to pay Rs 2,00,000 as fine (90% of which will go to the girl), failing which, he will face another year behind the bars.

According to the prosecution, the youth took the girl to a park in Maniktala and raped her. Initially, she remained quiet fearing loss of face. Finally, on realising that she was pregnant, she lodged an FIR at the police station on April 6. The boy was taken into custody and defence lawyers pleaded that he be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. Judge Biswas, however, ruled that he would be tried at a normal court as he is above 16. Kalpana Roy, the IO of the case, sent the girl for medical tests and rape was confirmed. It was also confirmed medically that the youth was the perpetrator of the crime.

The defence also sought leniency on the ground that the youth has parents and needs to look after them as there is nobody else in the family. This was also turned down by the court given the girl’s plight. The court also directed the state government to pay the girl Rs 10,00,000 as compensation and provide all assistance in her rehabilitation.