Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 31: Dakshina Kannada district sessions court has sentenced a youth, who was facing the charges of abducting a minor girl and raping her later, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment (RI). He also has been fined Rs 10,000.

Mohammed Iqbal (25) from Kaukrady village in Puttur taluk allegedly had abducted a 16-year-old girl from Konalu village belonging to scheduled caste, raped her, and then posed her death threat against revealing the information to anyone. When she was waiting in a bus stop at Nelyady on June 6 last at around 5.30 pm, he had approached her in a Maruti Omni vehicle, and coaxed her into hitchhiking in his vehicle. Although he promised her to drop her off at her home, he took her into a forest region near Puttur, raped her, and escaped after threatening her.

A case was registered in Uppinangady police station in this connection. The then assistant superintendent of police, Amit Singh, had investigated the case and filed charge sheet in the court. The final hearing was conducted on Wednesday. The judge, who found that the charges were proved, pronounced the judgment through which Iqbal was sentenced to seven years of RI. The fine imposed on him has been directed to be paid to the girl.