Man convicted

IMPHAL, Dec 19: In yet another landmark judgement, Special Judge, Fast Track Special Court Number 1 Manipur RK Memcha today convicted a 68-year old man under Section 6 of POCSO Act for committing sexual assault on a minor girl on different dates and time in the month of October and November 2021 somewhere in Imphal East district under the jurisdiction of Lamlai police station.
The father of the minor victim lodged a complaint before Women Police Station, Imphal East on August 7, 2022 stating her minor daughter had been sexually assaulted by the convict by taking advantage of the absence of family members at their residence on different dates and time in the month of October and November 2021.
During the course of investigation, the convict was arrested by the IO of the case on August 7, 2022 in connection with the case and remanded into judicial custody.
On further investigation, it came to light that in the month of July 2022 the victim was taken to a clinic by her stepmother but the clinic neither had a name nor any registered number. As a result of the sexual assault, the minor  convict gave birth to a baby boy.
The nurse of the clinic and two pharmacists were also arrested in connection with the case.
After completion of the investigation, Nambram Memtu, the IO of the case, submitted a charge sheet against the convict for trial and the charges were framed against the convict under Section 6 of POCSO Act.
Prosecution in order to bring the charges against the convict beyond reasonable doubt produced eight prosecution witnesses, 24 documents/exhibits and 10 material exhibits before the Court
A Nilachandra, Special PP of the State submitted that the prosecution could prove the charged offence.
The statement of the minor victim was also submitted before the Court and her delivery of a baby were well corroborated by other statements and exhibited documents.
On the other hand, the defence counsel of the convict submitted that the prosecution miserably failed to bring the charges home and also submitted that the investigation was faulty.
In such a situation, the convict is liable to avail the benefit of doubt, the defence counsel said.
The Court, after hearing the submission of the Special PP, the defence counsel and on perusal of all the materials and documents on record, observed that the prosecution was able to prove the charges against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.
The Court then convicted 68-year old accused under Section 6 of POCSO Act for committing sexual assault on the minor victim and fixed December 23 for sentence hearing.
The Court order also mentioned that Investigating Officer Nambram Memtu deserved appreciation for her commendable investigation of the case, who took efforts to conduct DNA test by personally going to Assam.