Man awarded life term in Pocso case, two others sent to juvenile board

Varanasi: In a swift judgment delivered within three years, the court of Special Judge (Pocso Act), Nitin Pandey, on Wednesday convicted a man in a case involving the gang rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The cases of the two other accused were transferred to the Juvenile Justice Board as they were found to be minors.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 62,000. It directed that, upon payment, 50% of the fine amount be given as compensation to the victim’s father.

Special Public Prosecutor Santosh Kumar Singh argued the case on behalf of the prosecution.

According to the prosecution, on March 1, 2023, the girl left home to play and never returned. Following an extensive search that yielded no trace of the victim, her father lodged a complaint at the Cantt police station. The following day, her body was discovered in a derelict structure near her house.

Investigators alleged that Sanoj alias Rahul, a resident of Pahlu Ka Pura Phulwaria, along with his two nephews, lured the girl into a house and assaulted her. They also strangled her to death and later disposed of the body in the ruins near the house under the cover of night.

Based on circumstantial evidence, police arrested Sanoj and his two nephews on March 4. A chargesheet was subsequently filed against all three accused in court. The trial against Sanoj was conducted before the Special Judge (Pocso Act).

During the proceedings before the Special Judge, the prosecution examined 12 witnesses, including the parents of the deceased.