Bareilly: Man gets life term for raping 2-year-old girl

BAREILLY: In a rare fast track trial within 14 working days, a special court of additional session judge dealing with cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, on Saturday, has sentenced a 34-year-old man to life imprisonment for kidnapping and raping a two-year-old girl.
The convict, Yadram Sahu, had been living in the same locality in Bareilly where the minor resides, under CB Ganj police station limits.The crime took place on October 14.
District government counsel, advocate Suneeti Pathak, said that it was a rare case in which the court pronounced judgment within 14 working days. “Since the crime was heinous in nature sending shivers down the citizens’ spine, all the machinery from police and administration to judiciary had been continuously on their job to ensure swift justice to the minor girl. District magistrate had asked me to look into the matter and brief him with day to day court updates.”
Speaking to TOI on the judgment, SSP Bareilly Shailesh Pandey said, “Police took swift action in this case and inspector Bachchu Singh had arrested the accused Yadram within 24 hours of the crime on October 15. A charge-sheet was filed against Yadram within six days on October 19 and circle officer Seema Yadav ensured that the case was religiously followed by the department in the court. This judgment will definitely send a strong message to offenders to think a thousand times before committing any crime, especially against the children.”
The father of the minor girl had approached the police to lodge a complaint on October 14 and stated that his girl was playing outside the house along with other children of the locality when around 6:30 pm she disappeared. She was last seen near the shop about 50 metres from their house.
In the FIR, the minor girl’s father stated, “When my son reached the shop looking for his sister, the children there told him that Yadram had taken the girl with him. When my son and his friend reached Yadram’s house, they were shocked to hear my daughter’s screams. She was on the terrace of the house. Sensing trouble, they rushed to the terrace to find her bleeding. Yadram had escaped.”
On the basis of the complaint, police had registered a case under sections 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act. Besides, the girl was sent for medical examination and the report confirmed “rape”.
Additional district government counsel (ADGC), advocate Reet Ram Rajput, produced at least eight witnesses before the court to record their statements. ADGC Rajput sought maximum punishment for the accused pleading that it was a heinous crime and sentence should act as a deterrent.
After hearing arguments from both sides, ADJ (POCSO) Sunil Kumar Yadav convicted the accused as guilty for raping the minor and awarded him with life imprisonment. Besides, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the guilty and ordered to give the same amount to the girl as compensation for her treatment.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)