A man in Tripura has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The District and Sessions Judge Court of Belonia in the South District handed down the sentence on Friday.
According to a press release from Tripura Police, the incident took place on September 14, 2024, when the accused, Prasenjit Muhuri, allegedly restrained and kidnapped the victim as she was returning home from school. He then took her to a rubber garden in a vehicle and forcibly raped her. The victim was later found near the house of a man named Gouranga Dutta, while the accused fled the scene.
The Special Judge in Belonia, South District, convicted Prasenjit Muhuri, who is 22 years old, and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs.10,000, with a default of two months of simple imprisonment if the fine is not paid. Additionally, he was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.2,000 for another offence under the POCSO Act.
The press release highlighted the efforts of the Investigating Officer, Women Inspector Swapna Bhowmik of Belonia Women Police Station, who thoroughly investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet that led to the conviction. The successful prosecution of this case reflects the commitment of law enforcement to ensuring justice for victims of sexual offences, particularly minors.
