TELANGANA: The Nalgonda POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) fast-track court, presided over by judge Roja Ramani, has delivered 10 verdicts between July 4 and September 16. In one case, the court sentenced the accused to death, while in all other cases, the authorities sentenced the convicts to a minimum of 20 years' imprisonment.
The government awarded victims compensation of ₹5-10 lakh in each case.
Death penalty in 2013 case
On April 28, 2013, accused Mukharram broke into a girl's house near his meat shop in Nalgonda, sexually assaulted her, and strangled her with a dupatta. Judge Roja Ramani sentenced him to death on August 14, along with a fine of ₹1.10 lakh. The victim's mother was awarded ₹10 lakh compensation.
51 years' imprisonment in ST girl's case
In another case, Mohammed Khayyum was convicted of kidnapping a ST girl in a car and sexually assaulting her. On August 26, he was sentenced to 51 years' imprisonment - 20 years under POCSO, 20 years under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, 10 years for kidnapping, and one year for criminal intimidation. And fined ₹80,000.
23 years for assault on minor
A special court on Tuesday convicted 63-year-old Marri Oosaiah in a POCSO case, sentencing him to 23 years in prison. The court found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl while she was asleep. Along with the jail term, the court directed Oosaiah to pay a fine of ₹40,000.
The court also awarded a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the victim to support her rehabilitation. Public prosecutor Vemula Ranjit Kumar argued the case on behalf of the prosecution.