Why Was a Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Raping His Minor Daughter in West Bengal?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 20-year sentence for the father.
- Victim to receive Rs 3 lakh compensation.
- Highlights the urgent need for minor protection laws.
- Case sheds light on the prevalence of sexual violence against minors.
- Importance of community support in reporting such crimes.
Kolkata, Sep 20 (NationPress) A fast-track district court in Alipurduar, West Bengal, has handed down a 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to a father found guilty of repeatedly raping his own minor daughter in 2023. The court also imposed a financial penalty of Rs 10,000, and failure to pay will result in an additional two months of rigorous imprisonment.
The case stemmed from a police complaint filed by the minor daughter at a local station in January 2023, accusing her father of multiple rapes. Following her mother's death shortly before the incidents, the girl and her mother were living with their father at their ancestral home.
According to her complaint, the first instance of rape occurred soon after her mother passed away, and the abuse continued on several occasions thereafter. Initially silent about the abuse, she eventually reported the crimes to the police, leading to her father's arrest and the filing of charges against him.
Investigations also uncovered a history of physical abuse towards his deceased wife. The police presented a chargesheet to the fast-track court, which initiated the trial process.
During the trial, testimonies from 15 witnesses were recorded, culminating in the father's conviction and subsequent sentencing to 20 years in prison. The court has also mandated the state government to provide a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the victim.
West Bengal has been in the national spotlight over the past year, with numerous reports of horrific rapes and rape-murder cases, particularly involving minors. A notable case was the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata last year.