BASAR, Mar 18: A Special POCSO Court has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) along with a fine of Rs 20,000 for committing offences of aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor girl.
Found on the wrong side of the law under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, the convict will go through an additional six months of simple imprisonment, on failure of payment of the fine.
The scene of crime, committed by the accused on the 5-year-old girl, dates back to 2023 during the period between October 20 and 25.
In a significant judgment dated 16/03/2026, the Court of Jaweplu Chai, Special Judge (POCSO), Basar, Leparada District, Arunachal Pradesh has convicted and sentenced Rika Barn in connection with a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
As per court records, the case (No BSR/POCSO-05/2023), arising out of Basar Police Station FIR No 31/2023 dated October 27, 2023, pertains to offences committed between October 20 and 25, 2023. The accused was arrested on October 28, 2023 and the chargesheet was filed on December 5, 2023.
The court found the accused guilty under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 20 years along with a fine of Rs 20,000. In default of payment of the fine, the convict will undergo an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, the convict, who was a relative of the five-year-old victim, sexually assaulted the minor girl at Old Bam village during the aforesaid period. Being a relative, the convict had easy access to the victim’s home, which facilitated the commission of the crime.
The case highlights the grave consequences of offences against children and underscores the strict enforcement of the POCSO Act. Authorities stated that public dissemination of such judgments aims to create awareness about the legal repercussions of such crimes and to deter potential offenders.
Officials further emphasized the importance of vigilance and community responsibility in safeguarding children and preventing such incidents in the future.