Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 31: In a gruesome case that shocked the area, the Fast Track Court Ramban has sentenced a man to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a deaf and dumb girl and criminally intimidating her. The sentencing order was passed by the Court of Pardeep K. Sandhu, Presiding Officer, Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Ramban, in continuation of the judgment of conviction delivered a day earlier.
The convict, Abdul Qayoom son of Mohd Din Sheikh, resident of Panthyal, Ramban, was facing trial in connection with FIR No. 46/2020 of Police Station Ramban for offences under Sections 376 and 506 IPC. According to the prosecution case, the victim, who is deaf and dumb, disclosed through sign language to her family that the accused had sexually assaulted her at an isolated place in a vacant room at Panthyal Dhok and had threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident to anybody. The matter surfaced after the woman was found pregnant, following which the family approached police and the case was registered.
During investigation, police got the victim medically examined, recorded her statement through an interpreter, conducted identification parade of the accused in the presence of a Magistrate and collected other evidence including medical and circumstantial material. The trial court, after examining the prosecution evidence and hearing the parties, convicted the accused in the case.
While arguing on sentence, the prosecution submitted that the accused had committed a heinous crime by taking advantage of the muteness of a deaf and dumb girl, forcibly raping her and making her pregnant. It was also argued that the victim remained silent because of the threats extended by the accused and later disclosed the incident only when her pregnancy became visible.
The defence counsel sought leniency on the grounds of the accused’s age, poverty, illness and family responsibilities. However, the Court sentenced Abdul Qayoom to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for the offence under Section 376(2)(i) IPC. The Court also awarded one year’s simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000 under Section 506(1) IPC, with both sentences directed to run concurrently.
The Court further directed that the period already undergone by the accused in judicial custody.In the case, the prosecution was conducted by Mr. Sanjay Kohli, Public Prosecutor, while the accused was represented by Mr. Yasir Malik, Advocate (JNF) |
