S Gopal Puri
Dharamshala: In a landmark judgment, the Fast Track POCSO Court in Dharamshala has sentenced a ward boy to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl during a hospital visit. The verdict was delivered by Deputy Sessions Judge Nitin Mittal, who also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the convict. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three months of imprisonment.
The incident dates back to January 2021, when the victim’s father lodged a complaint at the local police station. According to the complaint, the minor girl had been taken to the hospital for treatment, where the ward boy—posing as an X-ray operator—lured her into a room and forcibly molested her. The assault was interrupted when the victim’s mother arrived and rescued her daughter. The girl later narrated the entire ordeal to her mother.
Following a detailed investigation, the police registered a case under Section 6 of the POCSO Act along with other relevant provisions. During the trial, Additional District Attorney Naveen Rahi represented the prosecution. Based on witness testimonies and corroborating evidence, the court found the accused guilty and pronounced the sentence.
This judgment underscores the judiciary’s firm stance on crimes against children and the importance of swift justice under the POCSO framework.
