Assam POCSO court sentences Mohar Ali to 20 years for minor assault in Kokrajhar
Synopsis
A Special POCSO Court in Assam handed down a 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to Mohar Ali for the 2022 sexual assault of a minor at Kathalguri village in Kokrajhar — a verdict that arrives as Assam's Bodoland Territorial Region grapples with over 1,500 POCSO cases recorded in 2023 alone, spotlighting the acute child safety crisis in the state's riverine districts.
Key Takeaways
A Special POCSO Court in Assam sentenced convict Mohar Ali to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on 15 May 2025 .
A fine of ₹25,000 was imposed; default of payment carries an additional six months of imprisonment.
The assault occurred on 7 July 2022 at Kathalguri village , Kokrajhar , under the POCSO Act and IPC .
Fine proceeds will be directed towards victim compensation as per court directive.
Assam recorded more than 1,500 POCSO cases in 2023 , according to NCRB data.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan and other child rights groups have called for faster case disposal and stronger enforcement of child protection laws.
A Special POCSO Court in Assam on Friday, 15 May sentenced rape convict Mohar Ali to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 for the sexual assault of a minor girl in Kokrajhar district. The court further directed that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional six months of imprisonment, signalling the judiciary's firm stance against crimes targeting children.
What Happened
The assault took place on 7 July 2022 at Kathalguri village, under the limits of Kokrajhar Sadar Police Station. According to the prosecution, Mohar Ali allegedly lured a minor girl and dragged her into a secluded jute field along the banks of the Gourang river, where he sexually assaulted her.
The victim's family subsequently filed an FIR at Kokrajhar Sadar Police Station. Ali was arrested following a police investigation, and charges were framed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Evidence and Trial
The trial before the Special POCSO Court included testimonies from the victim and her family members, supported by medical and forensic evidence. Special Public Prosecutor Manjit Ghosh, who represented the prosecution, described the verdict as a significant step towards justice.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Ghosh said the judgment 'reflected the court's careful scrutiny of evidence and its commitment to protecting children from sexual crimes.'
Context: Rising POCSO Cases in Assam's BTR
The conviction comes amid growing concern over child sexual abuse cases in Assam's Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Assam recorded more than 1,500 POCSO cases in 2023. Child rights organisations, including Bachpan Bachao Andolan, have flagged that geographical isolation and social vulnerabilities in riverine areas such as Kokrajhar leave children particularly exposed to such crimes.
This verdict aligns with a broader judicial trend in which POCSO courts across India have been imposing increasingly stringent sentences in cases of child sexual abuse, reflecting the courts' interpretation of the law's intent.
What Happens Next
Mohar Ali, a resident of the locality, will serve his sentence at Kokrajhar Central Jail. As per the court's directive, the fine amount collected will be directed towards victim compensation. Child rights activists and social organisations have welcomed the verdict and renewed calls for faster disposal of pending POCSO cases and stricter enforcement of child protection laws across the state.
Police officials stated that stringent action is taken in all POCSO-related complaints, describing the case as an example of coordinated effort between law enforcement and the judiciary. The verdict has reportedly brought relief to the victim's family after a prolonged legal process spanning nearly three years.
Point of View
But the real headline is the backdrop: over 1,500 cases in Assam in 2023 alone, concentrated in districts where geographic isolation compounds institutional gaps. A conviction is justice delivered — but the volume of pending cases suggests the system is reacting far more than it is preventing. The fine-to-victim-compensation pipeline is also worth scrutiny; in practice, recovery of fines from convicted individuals with limited means is inconsistent, and the actual compensation reaching victims often falls short of what courts intend.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What sentence did the Assam POCSO court hand down to Mohar Ali?
The Special POCSO Court in Assam sentenced Mohar Ali to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 for the sexual assault of a minor in Kokrajhar. Failure to pay the fine carries an additional six months of imprisonment.
When and where did the assault on the minor take place?
The assault occurred on 7 July 2022 at Kathalguri village, under the jurisdiction of Kokrajhar Sadar Police Station in Assam. The accused allegedly lured the minor into a secluded jute field along the banks of the Gourang river.
What laws was Mohar Ali charged under?
Mohar Ali was charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The trial was conducted before a Special POCSO Court constituted specifically for such cases.
How serious is the POCSO case situation in Assam's Bodoland region?
According to NCRB data, Assam recorded more than 1,500 POCSO cases in 2023, with the Bodoland Territorial Region cited as a particularly vulnerable area. Child rights groups attribute the risk to geographic isolation and limited access to child protection infrastructure in riverine districts.
What happens to the fine collected from the convict?
As per the court's directive, the ₹25,000 fine collected from Mohar Ali will be utilised towards compensation for the victim. Ali will serve his sentence at Kokrajhar Central Jail.
