An Aligarh court has sentenced a 50-year-old priest to 20 years in prison for the heinous crime of raping a five-year-old Dalit girl. The swift justice was delivered within just 30 days of formal charges.
On July 3rd, the innocent child, accompanied by her 8-year-old brother, visited a nearby temple where the accused resided. Under the guise of a Rs 10 reward, the predator lured the vulnerable girl into his room and committed the unspeakable act.
The victim’s family reported the incident to the local police. The accused was arrested and charged under stringent laws including the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Special Public Prosecutor Mahesh Singh commended the swift judicial process, stating, “Following the chargesheet, the court of additional district judge (POCSO), Surendra Mohan Sahay, framed charges and carried out a speedy trial.”