20 January,2021 07:00 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Photo for representational purpose
Observing that a neighbour is supposed to protect children in the absence of their parents, a special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act court recently convicted and sentenced a 47-year-old hairstylist to three years rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl whose family was out at work.
Relying on the deposition of the child and other witnesses, the court said, "The entire evidence is duly corroborated by her grandmother and her cousin. Both of them have deposed as regards to the part played by them. The girl's cousin is the witness who had called the grandmother immediately after seeing the accused in their room and hearing about the act of the accused," the court said, as per a report in The Times of India.
The court further pointed out the incident took place after 3.40 pm and the family approached the police station at about 5.35pm.
"So, there is a prompt FIR. There is no room for doubt or suspicion in this case," the court said. The accused, a father of two, was told to pay the child Rs 25,000 as compensation. "It is just and proper to direct the accused to pay compensation to the victim to make good of the loss sustained by the victim to some extent," the court said.
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The grandmother testified that on November 30, 2013, she went to the market to buy vegetables, leaving the child alone at home. The child's parents and other family members were out at work. The woman said her other granddaughter was away at school. The grandmother said while she was out, the cousin reached home and then called her frantically and asked her to rush back. When she got there, she was told the accused had entered their home and caught hold of the victim when she was drinking water.
The grandmother was further informed that when the cousin pushed the door to the residence on reaching, she realised it wouldn't open fully as the safety chain had been used. Through the gap, she saw the accused had put his hand on the victim's mouth. The accused claimed he had visited to check the TV. The survivor, though, informed her family of the sexual assault.
