A school van driver was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Bharuch for raping a class IX girl in his vehicle in January 2013.
In its order delivered yesterday, the Additional District and Sessions court judge M S Bramhbhatt handed the life term to Kanu alias Kishan Machhi after finding him guilty of the charge.
"Such persons committing such heinous offence deserved to get severe punishment to prevent others from committing such acts," the judge said in the order.
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According to prosecution, the incident occurred on morning of January 19, 2013 after Machhi picked up the girl from her residence in Bharuch for dropping her to school as usual. There were no other students present in the vehicle.
However, instead of taking her to school, Machhi took the girl to an isolated field on the outskirts of the city and raped her, said Public Prosecutor P B Pandya.
He also threatened the victim of dire consequences if she disclosed the matter.
However, the girl confided in her mother, following which a complaint was lodged with a nearby police station.
Machhi was arrested and chargesheet filed against him.
