Haridwar Court Sentences Man to 10 Years for Attempted Rape of Minor Boy
In a significant verdict, a 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to rape an 11-year-old boy in Haridwar in 2021. The judgment was delivered by Haridwar Additional District Judge and Fast Track Special Court Judge Chandramani Rai on Wednesday, marking a stern stance against crimes targeting children.
Details of the Crime and Legal Proceedings
The accused, a resident of Bahraich who was unemployed at the time, lured the boy to a forest in Haridwar under false pretenses. According to government counsel Bhupendra Singh Chauhan, the convict falsely claimed that the boy's father had sent him and used the pretext of collecting belongings to isolate the child. When the boy resisted the attempted rape, the accused beat him and fled the scene.
Police later arrested the man, and he has remained in jail since the incident. He was charged under multiple legal provisions, including:
- IPC Section 377 (Unnatural offences)
- IPC Section 511 (Attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment)
- Provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act
The prosecution built a strong case by examining nine witnesses to establish the charges against the convict. The boy's father runs a tea shop in Haridwar, where the child also helped, and the convict did not know the victim prior to the crime.
Court's Sentence and Compensation Order
In addition to the 10-year rigorous imprisonment, Judge Chandramani Rai imposed a fine of Rs 36,000 on the convict. The court also directed the convict to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the survivor for the mental and physical trauma endured.
Furthermore, the trial court instructed the District Legal Services Authority to ensure additional compensation is provided to the survivor as per established norms. This dual compensation approach underscores the legal system's focus on supporting victims of such heinous crimes beyond mere punishment of the perpetrator.
The verdict highlights the judiciary's commitment to protecting children and delivering justice in cases under the Pocso Act, which aims to address sexual offences against minors with stringent measures. The case serves as a reminder of the severe consequences for those who exploit and harm vulnerable children, with the legal framework providing both punitive and restorative measures.
