Belonia, June 24: In a significant judgment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the District and Sessions Court of Belonia has sentenced 27-year-old Akash Nayek Bhil to five years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹2,000. The verdict was delivered by Judge Govinda Das, who also serves as the Special POCSO Judge.
The case pertains to an incident reported on January 24, 2024, in the Lakshmipur area of Barpathari, Belonia. According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly lured a seven-year-old girl into his home under false pretenses. The incident led to the registration of a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act.
Following the complaint lodged by the child’s father at the Belonia Women Police Station, police booked the accused under IPC Sections 354(b), 376(a)/(b), and Sections 6 and 8 of the POCSO Act. Inspector Swapna Bhowmik led the investigation and filed a chargesheet based on statements from 13 witnesses.
During the trial, 12 witnesses were examined. After evaluating the evidence, Judge Das convicted Akash Nayek Bhil under Section 10 of the POCSO Act and announced the sentence.
The prosecution was led by Special Public Prosecutor Prabhat Chandra Dutta.
The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to protecting children and ensuring justice in such cases.
