LIFE IMPRISONMENT TO TWO IN GANG RAPE

LIFE IMPRISONMENT TO TWO IN GANG RAPE

15-OCT-ENG 2

BUXAR--------------------------In a case involving the abduction and gang-rape of a minor—during which the victim was also branded with a hot iron for resisting—a special POCSO court has sentenced two convicts, Munna Nat and Ganesh Nat (alias Jatha Nat), to life imprisonment for the remainder of their natural lives. The court of Special Judge Amit Kumar Sharma also ordered that ₹18 lakh in compensation be paid to the victim. A third convict, Jagat Nat, was sentenced to the time already served in jail and ordered to pay a fine of ₹1,000.

The matter pertains to POCSO Case No. 27/2022, with the initial FIR registered at the Nawanagar (Sonvarsha Outpost) police station (Case No. 233/2013). According to the prosecution, the victim—a resident of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh—was brought to Sonvarsha in 2013 while unconscious and held captive in a house. There, she was subjected to forced sexual assault. When she resisted or attempted to escape, she was branded with a hot iron. On September 28, 2013, she managed to seize an opportunity to escape and, with the help of local residents, reached the police.

During the trial, the prosecution presented 15 witnesses, with Special Public Prosecutor Suresh Kumar Singh representing the state. In addition to the life sentence for the remainder of their natural lives for the rape, the court also handed down sentences for other related offenses. The convicts were sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment each for assault and wrongful confinement, and 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each for abduction and other charges. Furthermore, fines of ₹10,000 each have been imposed on both individuals under the relevant sections of the law. All sentences shall run concurrently.

The third convict, Jagat Nat, was sentenced to the period already spent in jail, under Section 368 of the Indian Penal Code. In the event of non-payment of the fine, he shall undergo an additional one month of simple imprisonment. The court ordered his immediate release, provided he is not wanted in any other case.

The court has ordered that Rs 18 lakh be provided to the victim under the Bihar Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019, and the provisions of the POCSO Act. This includes Rs 15 lakh for the gang-rape and Rs 3 lakh for six burn injuries. The Rs 15 lakh will be placed in a fixed deposit for three years, from which the victim will be able to withdraw monthly interest. The full principal amount will be accessible upon the expiry of this period, while the remaining Rs 3 lakh can be withdrawn immediately.