Baramulla Court Sentences Man to 14 Years for Sexual Assault of Minor

Calls act “barbaric,” says crime shook the conscience of society

By Online Editor Published on Oct 31, 2025

Suhail Khan

Baramulla, Oct 31 : The Court of the Principal Sessions Judge Baramulla has sentenced a man to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl in 2018.

Delivering the judgment as per Kashmir Convener, Judge Jawad Ahmed described the act as one of “barbaric intent,” states its devastating impact on the victim’s life and the collective conscience of society.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 447 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Dismissing the plea for leniency, the court held that the convict’s personal hardships “cannot outweigh the enormity of his crime.”

Public Prosecutor Mirza Zahid Khalil, known for his consistent record in securing convictions in sexual offense cases across north Kashmir, led the prosecution. The court’s observations emphasized that the assailant, a married man in his mid-forties, had exploited a vulnerable minor, stripping her of childhood, dignity, and peace. The judgment further revealed that the convict had a prior criminal record, including a pending rape case, marking him as a repeat offender and a continuing threat to public safety.

While acknowledging mitigating factors such as his age and dependent children, the court found that a mid-range sentence—between the statutory minimum and life imprisonment—was proportionate to the gravity of the offense.

Referring to established judicial principles, including those in State of M.P. vs. Bala alias Balram and Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab, the judgment reiterated that punishment must reflect society’s condemnation of grievous wrongdoing and serve as a strong deterrent.

The 14-year POCSO sentence and a concurrent three-month RPC sentence account for four years, three months, and nineteen days already served. The court also recommended compensation to the victim under the Jammu & Kashmir Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019, to be processed through the J&K Legal Services Authority.