A court in Kasargode, Kerala on Wednesday sentenced a man to rigorous life-imprisonment till death, after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 4-year old girl.
The convicted in the case is VS Raveendran, a native of Sankarampadi in Kasargode. He is a watchman in an outlet of the Kerala Beverages Corporation in the district.
Raveendran had been charged with aggravated penetrative sexual assault under Section 5 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO).
Kasargode Additional Sessions Judge PS Sasikumar, sentenced 45-year old Raveendran under Section 376 (AB) of the IPC.
This is the first conviction under the section in the state, reports The New Indian Express. The section was introduced in 2018 following the outrage over the Kathua rape case.
According to reports in Malayalam media, the man has also been fined Rs 25,000. He needs to undergo additional two years of imprisonment if he fails to remit the fine.
Under Section 376 (AB), the rape of a girl below the age of 12 years, attracts rigorous imprisonment of at least 20 years or life imprisonment and fine.
The Criminal Law (Amendment Ordinance), introduced three new offences relating to the rape of minors.
The case was registered at Bedakam police station in September 2018.
The man had sexually assaulted the girl when she came to his house. The girl, living in a rented accommodation near his house, had come to his house to play.
The case had been handed over to Kasargode Special Mobile Squad as the victim belongs to a Dalit community.
Special squad DySP P Harishchandra Nayak investigated the case and submitted the chargesheet in court.