Cachar Court Sentences 24-year-old to 20 years in prison for abduction and rape of minor

A 24-year-old youth from Udharbond has been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment by the court of Additional Sessions Judge (Special Judge, POCSO) Narayn Kuri for the rape and abduction of a minor from the same area. The judgement was pronounced on Monday (October 13) against convicted Anamul Haque Laskar of the Dumurghat area under Udharbond Police Station.

The unfortunate incident occurred on June 7, 2024, in the Channighat Tea Garden area under Udharbond Police Station. At around 8 PM, the 14-year-old girl was studying in her room while her mother was cooking in the adjacent kitchen. Her father was not at home, and taking advantage of the situation, Anamul abducted and raped her. When her mother couldn’t find her in the room, she searched everywhere but couldn’t locate her. The next morning, Anamul left her near her home and fled.

The parents filed an FIR at Udharbond Police Station the next day. They alleged that Anamul had come near their home in an auto, while the girl’s neighbour, Selim Uddin, and his wife lured the minor girl out of her house and handed her over to Anamul. He then took her in the auto to a deserted location a few kilometres away, near the Arunabond Tea Estate, where he allegedly had sexual intercourse with her twice.

They spent the night in the auto, and the next day, Anamul dropped her off near her home. The minor girl informed that they were in a relationship, but claimed she did not know that Anamul was married until she went with him in the auto.

After investigating the incident, the police submitted a charge sheet to the court. However, only Anamul was named as the accused in the case. Subsequently, the trial process began in court, and after the proceedings concluded, the court delivered its verdict on Monday.

Anamul was found guilty and sentenced to three years of imprisonment under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code, along with a fine of Rs. 5,000. In case of non-payment of the fine, he will have to serve an additional one month in jail.

Furthermore, under Section 4 of the POCSO Act, he was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and fined Rs. 20,000. Failure to pay this fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment. Both sentences will run concurrently.