Tough stance on child abuse: Budgam court hands 20-year jail term to POCSO convict

SRINAGAR, Oct 6: In a significant judgment reinforcing the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards crimes against minors, a court in Budgam district on Monday sentenced a man convicted of rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

According to a police spokesperson, Zahid Ahmad Parra was found guilty of committing rape under Section 376 of the IPC and sentenced to 20 years in prison along with a fine of ₹50,000. He was also awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 4 of the POCSO Act and an additional five years under Section 363 of the IPC for kidnapping a minor. “In case of default in payment of the fine, the convict shall undergo an additional six months of simple imprisonment,” the spokesperson said.

The verdict, delivered by the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Budgam, follows a thorough investigation and trial that established Parra’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Police officials said the judgment sends a strong message of deterrence and underlines the seriousness with which the judiciary views sexual offences against children.

In a separate case, a sessions court in Ganderbal convicted Ulfat Ahmad Magray of rape and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court found Magray guilty under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC as well as Section 4 of the POCSO Act. He was also fined ₹1,000.

“After an exhaustive investigation and trial, the court held the accused guilty and handed down a 10-year sentence along with a fine for the offence punishable under Section 4 of the POCSO Act,” the police spokesperson said.