Hyderabad: A special POCSO court in Malkajgiri on Wednesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl in 2021.
According to police, the incident took place on July 4, 2021, in Venkateshwara Nagar Colony of Dammaiguda. The child had gone to a nearby grocery shop when the accused, Abhiram Das, a daily-wage labourer from Odisha working in Jawahar Nagar, noticed her. He kidnapped the girl, took her to a deserted spot, and sexually assaulted her. The crime triggered statewide outrage at the time.
Jawahar Nagar police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with other sections of law. Investigators collected evidence and presented a watertight case before the court. After examining the material on record, the court found Das guilty, sentencing him to life imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹60,000.
POCSO court orders compensation for survivor
The judge also directed that compensation of ₹5 lakh be provided to the victim. Police officials said the investigation and trial were closely monitored by then Kushaiguda ACP Shivakumar, Jawahar Nagar constable Bhanu Chander, special public prosecutor Vijay Reddy, and additional public prosecutor Shyam Rao. Senior police officers later commended their efforts in securing the conviction.
