POCSO court sentences 62-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping her granddaughter’s friend

Agartala: A 62-year-old man was given a lifer by a special court under IPC section 376 (2) and 506 and section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, yesterday.

The court has also slapped a fine of Rs 60,000 on the convict besides rigorous imprisonment for life.

Sajal Banik of Milan Chakra locality of Agartala was found guilty of raping his granddaughter’s friend three years ago in his home.

The girl was threatened that if she revealed the incident to anyone her parents would be killed.

Scared, the victim did not tell anything to her family and even to her friend.

After two months of the incident, she showed some symptoms of pregnancy and changes in her physique, prompting her mother to take her for pregnancy test.

When the test confirmed pregnancy, she revealed the incident and the matter was reported to police in February 2018.

Based on the complaint, police arrested the accused. On courts directive, a team of doctors terminated the foetus and subsequent DNA test of the accused was carried out, which established Sajal Banik’s crime.

After a long trial that continued for three years, Special judge V P Debbarma of West Tripura (POCSO) court convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. (UNI)