Two get 12-year jail in rape case, fined

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 18

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Rashmi Sharma has convicted Ravi Kumar of Shanti Nagar and Chandan Kumar of Guru Amar Dass Colony of kidnapping and rape. They were ordered to undergo 12-year jail imprisonment each. A fine of Rs 1,20, 000 was also imposed on them, of which Rs 1 lakh would be paid to the victim as compensation.

“The rape is not only a brutal attack on the physical autonomy and personal integrity of the victim, but it also degrades the very soul of the victim. Kidnapping coupled with confinement of the young child of 15 years and repeated commission of rape by two convicts for a period of nine months brings the heniousness and depravity of the offence to the forefront,” observed the court while declining plea of leniency raised by the convicts.

The case was registered on February 6, 2015, following a statement of the victim's father. The complainant had stated that on February 4, 2015, her daughter had gone to Ganesh Book Shop, Daba Road, for purchasing certain paper sheets. When she did not return, his wife sent his son to fetch her. When his son reached the shop, he came to know that the girl did not reach there. While he was returning home, he saw that accused were dragging her sister to an auto and soon, they sped away with her. On December 5, 2015, the girl was recovered and the accused were arrested.

Additional Public Prosecutor SS Haider said the prosecution examined 11 witnesses to prove the guilt of the accused.