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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 29
A 33-year-old resident was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping his seven-year-old daughter earlier this year. The court observed that small children were not safe in their own homes. The convict was also directed to pay a fine of Rs 1.55 lakh of which Rs 50,000 will go as compensation to the victim.
The convict had hurt his eight-year-old son as well after the latter heard shrieks of his sister. He tried to enter the room, but the convict closed the door with his hand in between, thus seriously hurting his fingers. The judgment stated, “He has caused hurt to the boy and has kept an evil eye on no one else but his own daughter, who he is bound to protect from the entire world.”
The order said such persons did not deserve any leniency as they caused a scar to the victim for an entire lifetime and impacted the fabric of society. It added that the children were very afraid even while identifying their father and broke down numerous times while recording their statement. Counsel for the victim stated, “It was important that justice be served in such a case where children are not safe with their own father”.
The police received a complaint in the matter on April 3 this year.
They were informed that the father had removed the minor’s clothes and raped her in the absence of his wife at their home.
When the brother of the victim heard his sister’s shrieks, he went to rescue her, but the convict closed the door on him due to which his fingers came in the door and bled profusely.
They were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Panchkula where the minor recounted the details to her mother.
During the trial, the accused had claimed that he was not mentally fit and hence did not realise what happened.
However, a medical board was constituted on the court’s directions whose medical report stated that he was clinically fine.
Convict had injured his son too