The Cachar Special (POCSO) Court has sentenced 59 years old, Pradeep Kumar Dutta, Central Security Force personnel to 5 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor girl on Monday.
The verdict, delivered on Monday by Additional Sessions Judge (POCSO), Narayan Kuri, also includes a fine of ₹21,000, with additional imprisonment in case of non-payment.
The incident took place on February 8, 2023, in the Das Colony area of Balighat, under the Arunachal Police Post. As per case details, the accused entered the victims house around 10 am, when the parents was not there. Taking the advantage of the absence of parents, the accused assault the girl.
The victim’s cries for help alerted her mother, who rushed back home. Upon seeing her, the accused fled the scene after allegedly threatening the child with severe consequences if she revealed the incident.
The immediately filed a complaint at the local police station. A case registered and after through investigation, the accused was charged under Sections 376 (Rape) and 448 (House Trespass) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Sections 6 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The trial of the case began on February 17, 2024 and after multiple hearings and examination of the witnessed, the final judgement of the case held on June 23, 2025.
Dutta was convicted under Section 10 of the POCSO Act and sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment along with a ₹20,000 fine. He will serve an additional six months in case of default. Under Section 448 of the IPC, he received six months’ imprisonment and a ₹1,000 fine, with one more month of imprisonment if unpaid.
The judgment marks a significant step towards justice for the survivor and her family, who have been grappling with the trauma since the incident.