Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 20: Days after conviction, a fast-track court today sentenced a resident of Bihar to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000.
The sentencing pertains to a case involving the kidnapping and rape of a 15-year-old girl in the Habba Kadal area of Srinagar in 2016.
Renu Dogra Gupta, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, pronounced the sentence on convict Santosh Kumar Paswan, son of Saider Paswan and resident of Lalpora Bhim Nagar, Bihar. Paswan was found guilty under Section 363 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) for kidnapping.
The court ruled that both sentences shall run concurrently, with the period already served by Paswan deducted from the total sentence. Prosecution in the case was represented by APP Farooq Malik.
It is to be noted here that police had filed a charge-sheet against Paswan for the kidnapping and rape of the minor girl in 2016.
According to the prosecution, on September 1, 2016, the girl’s father filed a complaint with the Kralkhud Police Station stating that Santosh Kumar Paswan, who had been working as a mason at his house, often visited their home.
The complainant reported that his daughter was missing and suspected she had been enticed by Paswan.
During a search, the girl and the kidnapper were found riding a motorcycle near Humhama, heading towards the airport under suspicious circumstances.
Subsequently, they were apprehended and brought to the Police Post Humhama. The motorcycle and air tickets from Srinagar to Delhi belonging to the accused and the victim were seized.
The girl underwent a medical examination, which revealed a pregnancy of approximately 10 weeks and 6 days.
The prosecution stated that the accused took advantage of the girl’s minority and immaturity, establishing an illegal relationship with her.
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