Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS/HB)
Udupi, Aug 14: Special judge of POCSO fast track court at the district additional and sessions court Ermalu Kalpana pronounced a landmark judgement in the case of a man who sexually harassed a 13-year-old girl and impregnated her, three years ago, under the limits of Karkala police station circle.
Shankar (30), a daily wage labourer, is the convict. He is sentenced to life under POCSO for sexually harassing the minor girl and slapped with a fine of Rs 15,000. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo one year of simple imprisonment. In addition, the convict has to serve three years of imprisonment for threatening with life and a fine of Rs 5,000. If the convict fails to pay the fine, he has to undergo six months of simple imprisonment. The court also ordered to pay Rs five lac from the legal services authority to the victim girl. Out of the fines, the victim has to be given Rs 15,000 and Rs 5,000 to be paid to the government.
The incident of sexual harassment took place in 2018. When the victim's minor girl had arrived at his house, convict Shankar had sexually harassed her due to which she became pregnant. Her parents, who came to know about the incident, filed a case in the concerned police station. The then circle inspector of Karkala Joy Anthony had filed the charge sheet. As many as 11 out of the 21 witnesses testified in the court. DNA reports and various witnesses including that of the victim girl were complementary to the accusation. So the court after hearing for and against arguments for the prosecution, pronounced its judgement.
Special public prosecutor of POCSO special court of Udupi, Y T Raghavendra had argued for the prosecution.