The VII Additional District and Sessions Court in Puttur sentenced a 64-year-old man, Abdullah, to five years’ simple imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2020.

The judge, Sumangala Chakalabbi, also imposed a fine of ₹35,000 on Abdullah for offences under Sections 354A(1) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo an additional six months’ imprisonment, the judge said.

Sullia Circle Inspector Naveenchandra Jogi filed the charge sheet, while Pushparaj represented the prosecution.

Rape accused held

The Venur police have arrested an autorickshaw driver, Jamaluddin, a resident of Venur, on charges of raping a 14-year-old girl. According to a complaint filed at the police station on August 15, the victim said she regularly travelled to school in Jamaluddin’s autorickshaw. On August 13, he allegedly came to her house when she was alone, raped her, and threatened her life. The Venur police arrested him under Sections 75(2), 64(1), 65(1), and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 4(2), 8, and 12 of the POCSO Act.

In another case, the Bantwal Town police arrested Jayant, 47, a resident of Sarapady in Bantwal taluk, for allegedly stalking a 16-year-old girl. According to a complaint, the victim was terrified after Jayant stared at her at the Kalladka bus stop on Wednesday. The police registered a case under Section 78 of the BNS and Section 12 of the POCSO Act before making the arrest.