Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL) – the apex body of Tangkhul women organisation has strongly condemned the bail granted to one accused in the POCSO case, a 67-year old man allegedly raping and impregnating a minor girl
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
Tangkhul Shanao Long has strongly come out condemning the bail granted to one accused in a POCSO case. The condemnation statement reads “the Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL) is extremely shocked to learn that bail has been granted to the accused in the POCSO case No. 09/POCSO/CWC-Ukl/2021.
“It may be recalled that the case concerns a 67 years old man allegedly raping and impregnating a (then) 16 years old minor girl. Following a criminal complaint filed by the minor’s father in August 2021, necessary police processes including the registration of an FIR was undertaken and the accused was subsequently arrested.
“The TSL has learned that despite the lapse of 7 months since the filing of the FIR and the subsequent arrest of the accused, charge sheet against the accused was not submitted to the concerned court. It also appears that the appropriate authorities of Ukhrul Police Station was not served with requisite notice for bail objection from the Court for bail objection.
“Given all these, the TSL demands the appropriate authorities to immediately file the charge sheet and that due process of the case be executed at the earliest.”
On August 14, 2021, Ukhrul Police arrested a 67 years old man for allegedly raping and impregnating a 16 year old minor in Ukhrul District.
The minor’s father had lodged a complaint report at Ukhrul Women Police Station on August 14, 2021. Accordingly, FIR No. 3(8)2021 Women PS/ Ukhrul was registered against the accused. Acting swiftly, Ukhrul Police had arrested the 67 years old accused who had gone into hiding. Ukhrul Police informed that the accused have raped the minor multiple times since December, 2020.The minor did not report to their parents because the accused had threatened her. The minor child was pregnant and in advance stage nearing delivery. The victim was admitted to one of the hospital in Imphal on August 26, 2021 and delivered a baby boy on August 27, 2021.
It is worth mentioning that, a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant set aside the order of a single judge of Jharkhand High Court granting bail to an accused in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 and IPC
Section 6. Of POCSO Act reads “Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault.–
(1) Whoever commits aggravated penetrative sexual assault shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of natural life of that person and shall also be liable to fine, or with death.
(2) The fine imposed under sub-section (1) shall be just and reasonable and paid to the victim to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of such victim.”