Kangra man gets 22-year jail for raping, impregnating minor niece 

DHARAMSHALA: A fast-track POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) court has sentenced 22-year rigorous imprisonment to a man from Nagrota in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district for raping and impregnating his minor niece.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Anil Kumar also slapped a fine of ₹20,000 on the convict, the inability to pay which will invite an additional jail term of three years.

According to information provided by Special Additional District Magistrate Rajrani, the complaint was lodged by the victim’s mother at Nagrota police station on January 28, 2022.

The victim’s mother said that her daughter had been residing with her grandparents and the uncle. The victim was taken ill all of a sudden one day and when she was taken to a government hospital for treatment, it came to light that she was two-month pregnant.

When the victim’s mother inquired from her, she revealed that the convict had been sexually abusing her for nearly a year, threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anybody.

As many as 29 witnesses were presented in the case. The court pronounced 22 years of rigorous imprisonment and an additional three years for non-payment of ₹20,000 fine under the POSCO Act. Inspectors Bindu Chandel and Ashok Rana conducted the investigation in the case. Additionally, the court ordered ₹5 lakh compensation to be paid to the victim under the District Legal Services Authority.