Man sentenced to 25 years RI for raping minor in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum

Jamshedpur: In a landmark judgment, the Court of Additional District Judge-I has handed down a 25-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to 32-year-old Akhtar Ansari for the heinous crime of raping a minor in the Gua thana area of West Singhbhum in June 2021.

Akhtar Ansari, a resident of Chhatapather in Deoghar district, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor girl on June 10, 2021. The incident occurred when Ansari, in the afternoon, lured the impoverished girl into his motorcycle with the pretext of having her clean his residence in the Gua locality.

During the course of the journey, Ansari diverted from the intended route and halted near a forested area where he subjected the minor to a horrific act of sexual assault. Following the assault, the young victim courageously disclosed the ordeal to her parents, who immediately reported the incident to Gua thana, leading to the filing of an FIR against the motorcycle rider.

The police initiated an investigation under Section 376(3) of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Despite facing the challenge of a blind case, the authorities diligently pursued their inquiry, employing scientific methods and investigative techniques to apprehend the culprit.

Upon being presented before the Court of Additional District Judge-I, Akhtar Ansari was found guilty of the grave offense of raping a minor. In addition to the severe 25-year prison sentence, the court imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 30,000 on the convict.

This verdict serves as a significant step towards ensuring justice for the victim and underscores the commitment of the legal system to protect the rights and safety of minors in society. The stringent punishment meted out to the perpetrator sends a strong message that such reprehensible acts will not go unpunished, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders.

The verdict has been met with relief and satisfaction by the victim’s family, who have expressed their gratitude to the police and the legal system for their swift and resolute action in this case.