Agra Court sentences 70-year-old man to ten years for molesting 6-year-old girl

New Delhi: The court has convicted 70-year-old Bhanu Pratap also known as Pratap, for molesting a six-year-old girl under the POCSO Act in Agra. Special Judge Sonika Chaudhary sentenced Pratap to ten years in prison and imposed a fine of fifty thousand rupees. The prosecution, led by ADGC Subhash Giri and senior advocate Deepak Kumar Sharma, presented critical evidence and witnesses during the trial.

Girl lured to accused's home

The case began when the girl's father filed a complaint with the Jaitpur police station. According to the complaint, on January 24, 2018, the girl had gone to a nearby house to feed a small child. The accused allegedly lured her to his home, where he committed the offense. The trial featured testimonies from the girl, her mother, a doctor, inspector Surendra Kumar Sagar, Virendra Pal Singh and SI Chandra Prakash Sharma, all of whom provided evidence to support the charges.

Court acknowledges profound impact on victims

In its verdict, the court unequivocally condemned the crime as exceptionally brutal, setting it apart from typical rape cases due to its extreme nature. The judge poignantly highlighted the stark contrast between the government's prominent "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" campaign, which aims to protect and empower girls, and the harsh reality of the ongoing struggle to prevent such heinous acts from occurring.

The court expressed deep concern that failing to deal severely with perpetrators of such crimes sends a damaging message to society, undermining efforts to prevent future incidents. Moreover, the court acknowledged the profound and lasting impact on victims, who often suffer from lifelong psychological trauma, emphasizing the need for a strong stance against such crimes.