10 yrs RI to kidnapping, rape accused

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 5: Presiding Officer Fast Track Court, Sanjeev Gupta today awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment to one Ashwani Kumar of Akhnoor, who was facing trial in kidnapping and rape with five years old girl.
The incident took place on November 29, 2010 under the jurisdiction of Police Station Akhnoor and accordingly a case under Section 363/376 RPC was registered. After completion of investigation, challan was presented and charges under Section 363/376/511 were framed against the accused person.
After hearing APP GS Charak appearing for the State whereas Advocate DS Saini appearing for the accused, Presiding Officer Fast Track Court observed, “cases relating to crime against women particularly pertaining to young female children have increased in recent time and the social impact of the heinous offence particularly as in present case when it relates to a helpless girl of five years of age cannot be lost sight and per se it requires exemplary treatment”.
“Any liberal attitude by imposing meager sentences or taking too sympathetic view merely on account of young age of convict beside his economic condition or other irrelevant considerations will be result of wise counterproductive in long run”, the court said.
With these observations, court granted seven years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 25000 under Section 376/511 RPC and under Section 363 the court awarded three years and fine Rs 2000 to Ashwani Kumar. The court further directed that if the fine amount be released than Rs 20000 shall be given to the prosecutrix as compensation.