In a significant judgement, a court in Belonia under South Tripura district on Thursday , a 42-years old  has been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment for abduction and rape of a 15-years old minor.

After four years of hearing, the District and session judge of Belonia, Govinda Das found him guilty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and pronounced the verdict on Thursday afternoon. Raju Das has been sentenced to 20 years in jail, fined of Rs 10,000, and in case of non-payment, an additional two-year of imprisonment.

Giving details, special public prosecutor Prabhat Chandra Dutta said that the incident of abduction and rape committed on February 28, 2021 last. Raju Das, a resident of Ishanchandra Nagar under Bilonia police station, is married and has a daughter. He became acquainted with the 15-year-old minor at her maternal uncle's house. Later, when the minor attended a festival at Chottakhola Bazaar, he abducted her  and raped her.

After an extensive search, when the family failed to locate the girl, they filed an FIR at PR Bari police station of Rajnagar.

Following the complaint, Belonia police launched an investigation, rescued the minor along with Raju Das, and brought them to the police station. The police handed the girl over to her family and registered a case against Raju Das for abduction and rape. After four years of legal proceedings, the District and Session court of Belonia sentenced him on Thursday.