India courts impose harsh penalties in child abduction and sexual assault cases

A court in Uttar Pradesh sentenced a 40‑year‑old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 20,000 rupees for abducting, raping and assaulting a seven‑year‑old girl in Ban da’s Kamasin area. The victim, rescued after a prolonged search, received compensation from the fine. The case, filed under the POCSO Act, involved multiple witnesses and concluded after several hearings.

In the Rahimabad region, police apprehended a 34‑year‑old suspect after he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a four‑year‑old Dalit girl. The child was found in a severely weakened state near a road and taken for medical examination. The offender was charged under the POCSO Act and related statutes and placed in custody shortly after arrest.