What Sentencing Did a Bengal Court Impose on a Man for Raping a Minor?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the accused.
- DNA evidence confirmed the connection between the victim and the accused.
- The trial highlighted the challenges faced by sexual assault victims in seeking justice.
- The case emphasizes the importance of legal reforms for the protection of minors.
- Social stigma often prevents victims from reporting incidents.
Kolkata, July 29 (NationPress) In a case that has lingered for five years, a court in Bankura district of West Bengal has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl and impregnating her.
The ruling was made after the district court evaluated the testimonies of 12 witnesses throughout the lengthy hearing process.
Additionally, the court considered the DNA evidence from the victim's child, which confirmed a match with the accused.
The incident involved Basu Kalindi, a rickshaw puller, who assaulted the minor daughter of another rickshaw driver in Bankura district back in 2020.
Following the assault, the accused manipulated and blackmailed the minor, who was then a 10th-grade student, leading to days of repeated abuse.
The victim initially kept the incident secret from her parents due to fear and concerns over social stigma.
However, the situation came to light when she became pregnant.
After revealing the truth to her family, they reported the crime to the Bankura women's police station in December 2020, filing a formal complaint against Basu Kalindi.
With the case registered under the POCSO Act, police arrested Kalindi that same month.
The charge sheet was submitted within 50 days, and the trial has been ongoing ever since.
Throughout the proceedings, the court gathered statements from 12 individuals.
In addition, the DNA report linking the accused to the victim's child was pivotal in the court's decision.
On Tuesday, the district court handed down a sentence of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to the accused, along with a fine of Rs 10,000, and stipulated an additional year in prison if the fine is not paid.