Arunachal man sentenced to 20 years jail for rape of 15-year-old

ITANAGAR: An Arunachal Pradesh man accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl in 2019 in Longding district was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by a special court in Khonsa yesterday for the crime he had committed.

 

Topha Wangshu, a resident of Longkhaw village in Longding district, was convicted under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for committing “penetrative sexual assault”.

 

The victim told the court that Wangshu had engaged in forcible sexual intercourse with her, causing her to become pregnant, which resulted in a miscarriage.

 

ALSO READ: Cheques, Passbook Of 8 Banks To Be Invalid From April 1

 

After the incident took place in 2019, an FIR was registered against Wangshu at the Longding police station under Section 376 (2) (i) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 4 of the POCSO Act.

On the other hand, the accused argued that he was in love with the victim and that she had consented to the sexual intercourse.

 

According to reports, the court sentenced Wangshu to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, the minimum under the POCSO Act, since a sexual crime involving a child 15 years of age or younger is a criminal offense under the Act.

 

The Khonsa Court has also referred the case to the Longding district legal services authority in order to ensure that the victim receives appropriate compensation under the Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011.