Correspondent

NewsBits.in

KHANDWA/BHOPAL: An elderly man who sexually exploited minor girls in his hostel for the differently abled, has been sentenced to life in Madhya Pradesh.

The man--Poonam Chand Malviya, 67, has been held guilty and sentenced to life till death.

The court has lauded the courage of the girl who had managed to escape and informed authorities about the sexual abuse. It has also asked state government to provide compensation to the girls.

Malviya was running the hostel in Khandwa district. It was a 13-year-old girl who had infored the police about the sexual abuse in the hostel. Subsequently, police had conducted the raid. Other girls also testified that there was rampant sexual abuse.

During the raid, police found aphrodisiacs from his room. After the women and girls were rescued, the case was registered. The victims' statements were recorded and the DNA samples were sent for tests.

On the basis of the forensic reports and other evidences that corroborated the crimes, the court held Malviya guilty. Judge Tapesh Kumar Dubey awarded him life imprisonment.

The girls had revealed that they were tortured and forced to submit to his will. The incident had come to light on November 12, 2017. This was a private hostel. The court noted that the man misued his position and sexually abused the victims.

It also praised the girl who dared to come forward and lodged the FIR. The state government has been asked to ensure that the girls get proper education and are rehabilitated.