Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 24: In a landmark judgment that reaffirms the judiciary's resolve to protect the rights of children, the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Shopian, Mehmood Ahmad Chowdhary, on Thursday convicted two men in a harrowing case of kidnapping and sexual assault of a 17-year-old minor girl. The verdict, delivered after a full-dress trial, awarded ten years of rigorous imprisonment to the main accused while the co-accused received five years of imprisonment for abetment.
The incident dates back to December 12, 2022, when the girl went missing after she had gone to purchase household items. Despite frantic searches, her family could not trace her. Investigations later revealed that Yawar Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Khawajapora, had deceitfully lured and abducted the minor with the intent of exploiting her. Police registered FIR No. 150 of 2022 at Police Station Zainapora under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), leading to a swift investigation. The victim was eventually recovered from the possession of the accused in Jammu. It was further revealed that the second accused, Mehraj Ahmad Dar, also from Khawajapora, actively aided Sheikh in the commission of the crime.
The charge sheet was filed before the court on December 30, 2022, with the prosecution pressing charges under Section 363 IPC and various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Charges were formally framed on February 9, 2023, to which the accused pleaded not guilty, paving the way for a detailed trial. The prosecution, led by Public Prosecutor Abdul Rashid Mughloo, examined ten witnesses out of the eleven listed, presenting evidence that proved the offences beyond reasonable doubt. The court concluded that Sheikh had kidnapped and sexually assaulted the victim, while Dar abetted the crime, making him equally culpable under law.
After weighing the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court convicted Yawar Ahmad Sheikh under Section 363 IPC and Section 4 of the POCSO Act, sentencing him to ten years rigorous imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 30,000. Mehraj Ahmad Dar was convicted under Section 363 IPC and Section 17 of the POCSO Act, and sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 15,000.
(JNF) |
