14-yr-old boy convicted for minor's rape in MP; trial over in 7 hrs

A 14-year-old boy was sent to reform home for two years by a juvenile board here for raping a four-year-old girl, with the entire process of the case being completed in just five days.

Juvenile Justice Board Judge Tripti Pande pronounced the sentence yesterday after wrapping up the trial in seven hours, government advocate Deependra Malu said today.

The crime took place on August 15 and the entire process, from registration of the case to pronouncement of judgement, was completed in five days.

"The case diary was submitted in the court at 10.45 am yesterday and the judgement, after trial, was pronounced around 6 pm," Malu said.

"This is probably for the first time, after the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act came into effect in 2012, that a judgement in a rape case of a minor has been given in such a short duration," he said.

While pronouncing the sentence, Malu said, the judge observed, "The tendency of sexual offences against children is rising at a fast pace in society. To correct such a perverted psychological condition, this boy needs to be sent to two years' imprisonment."