<p>The girl identified the accused who lived within walking distance of her house though she never met him ear... Read More

MUMBAI: A 23-year-old man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by a special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act court for sexually harassing a 15-year-old .The man held her hand and told her, “Love me“. The girl identified the accused who lived within walking distance of her house though she never met him earlier. She used to cross his house on the way to meet her friend.

The victim in her deposition before the court said when she had got off the bus back from college on August 10, 2015, and was walking through the subway to get to her house, the accused grabbed her hand and insisted she love him. When she tried to pull away , the accused verbally abused her and hit her on the back. The victim further stated he threatened to kill her if she didn't agree to marry him. After abrief struggle, she ran towards the market where she met her aunt and narrated the entire incident. The accused fled on seeing the victim with her aunt.The girl and the aunt went to the police station where she told the cops about the incident. The minor said her mother arrived at the police station after she called her, and lodged the complaint.

During cross-examination, the child said her family members never spoke with the family members of the accused. She also denied the defence suggestion she had falsely implicated the man at the behest of her family .

Besides the victim, her aunt, mother and the police officer who recorded the her complaint testified before the court. The mother too denied the defence claims that the accused was falsely implicated as there was a long-standing dispute between the families of the victim and the accused. The aunt in her deposition said she had seen the accused grabbing the minor's hand. She further stated when the victim ran to her and told her about the incident, she complained to the man's father. But his father paid no heed, following which she and the victim went to the cops. The court convicted the accused on charges of outraging modesty and sexual harassment.

