Patna, Feb 25: A special court in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district has sentenced a couple to death after convicting them of sexually assaulting 33 minor children, including toddlers as young as three years old, in a case that has shocked the region.
The judgment was pronounced by a special judge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), following detailed trial proceedings and examination of evidence.
The convicts, Rambhawan and his wife Durgawati, were found guilty under multiple stringent provisions of the POCSO Act, including aggravated penetrative sexual assault, unnatural offences, use of children for pornographic purposes, and criminal conspiracy.
Calling the offence grave and inhuman, the court awarded the capital punishment to both accused. The order is subject to confirmation by the Allahabad High Court, as mandated in death penalty cases.
In a significant move towards victim rehabilitation, the court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each of the 33 survivors. It further ordered that any money recovered from the residence of the convicts be distributed equally among the victims.
The case had drawn widespread attention due to the number of victims and the disturbing nature of the allegations. Legal experts say the verdict reflects the judiciary’s firm approach in cases involving crimes against children.
The POCSO Act, enacted in 2012, provides a robust legal framework for the protection of children from sexual offences and mandates special courts for speedy trials.
Further legal proceedings are expected as the convicts retain the right to appeal against the sentence.
