In a harrowing incident that came to light from Banda, Uttar Pradesh, a local court has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for the sexual assault of a 5-year-old child. The verdict also includes a fine of INR 10,000 imposed on the perpetrator. The accused, a resident of Hamirpur, was reportedly a rickshaw driver in Banda and had committed the crime in 2014, luring the child with the promise of candy.
The legal proceedings began following a complaint filed by the victim’s father. The police registered the case and initiated action, leading to the filing of a charge sheet in court. Throughout the trial, six witnesses were presented, and after hearing arguments from both sides, the court found the rickshaw driver guilty.
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According to the government prosecutor, Kamal Singh Gautam, the incident occurred when the accused, identified as Rajendra from the Maudaha police station area of Hamirpur, assaulted the young girl on the side of a road under the pretense of giving her candy. The assault was interrupted when a neighbor, hearing the child’s cries, approached the scene and the perpetrator fled, leaving the child behind.
The case, registered under section 376AB among others, saw a protracted legal battle with six judges presiding over the course of 50 hearings. The delay in the final verdict was attributed to the victim’s family moving residences, which led to an 8-year wait for the victim’s statement to be recorded in court.
