Shillong, Sept 29: POCSO courts in Meghalaya have sentenced two men to a total of 30 years of rigorous imprisonment in two separate cases.
In the first case, a Special POCSO Court sentenced Batskhembor Diengdoh to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a mentally unstable minor.
The court of R Rymbai, Special Judge (POCSO), East Khasi Hills, on September 25, found Diengdoh guilty in Special (POCSO) Case No. 55 of 2017, arising out of Rynjah PS Case No. 28(10)2016.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said the case was registered on October 17, 2016, after an FIR was received at Nongthymmai BH alleging that Diengdoh had sexually assaulted the complainant’s minor daughter, who is mentally unstable.
Police arrested the accused and later filed a charge sheet.
The court sentenced Diengdoh to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 under Section 6 of the POCSO Act. In case of default in payment of the fine, he will undergo an additional three months of rigorous imprisonment.
The convict has already spent three months and two days in jail as an undertrial, which will be set off against his sentence. He will serve the remaining term in prison.
The investigation was led by WP/Insp BM Kharakor, who is now posted at the CID Organisation, Meghalaya, Shillong.
Meanwhile, another Special POCSO Court sentenced Pyntngenlang Nongsiej to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy in Lumdiengjri in 2020.
The court of R Rymbai, Special Judge (POCSO), East Khasi Hills, on September 16 convicted Nongsiej in connection with Lumdiengjri PS Case No. 35(3)2020.
According to a press release issued by East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, the incident came to light on March 16, 2020, when the victim’s parent lodged an FIR alleging that Nongsiej had sexually assaulted her seven-year-old son.
After the trial, the court held Nongsiej guilty under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000. Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.
Police said the convict has already undergone nine months and four days of imprisonment as an undertrial.
The investigation was conducted by retired UBSI SA Sangma.
