Anand court sentences man to 20-year jail for kidnapping, assaulting minor

A Special POCSO Court in Anand has sentenced a 20-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the kidnapping and repeated sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl.

The incident occurred on August 11, 2023, near the Borsad Crossing in Anand. The victim’s father filed a complaint on August 16 after discovering his minor daughter had been abducted while she was working at a construction site.

Following a search, police located the accused, Kiran Chunara, and the victim in Bhachau. The investigation revealed that the accused had lured the girl into a rickshaw and taken her to various locations, including Bhachau, Petlad, and Anjar.

During the trial, the victim testified that the accused had repeatedly assaulted her against her will and threatened her to keep silent. Medical evidence confirmed the physical assault, and the victim's birth certificate proved she was a minor (16 years and 11 months old) at the time of the crime.

The court found Kiran guilty under section 363, 366, and 376(2)(n) cof IPC covering kidnapping, abduction to compel marriage and repeated rape.

Rejecting pleas for leniency based on the defendant's age, the court sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine. Additionally, the court ordered ₹4,00,000 in compensation for the victim under the Gujarat Victim Compensation Scheme-2019 to aid in her recovery.