Man convicted of raping minor in Uttar Pradesh, sentenced to 20 years

A court in Uttar Pradesh's Shravasti district has convicted a man of sexually assaulting a minor girl, sentencing him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000. The conviction was secured under Operation Conviction, a state-wide drive launched by the Director General of Police to ensure punishment for perpetrators in serious and flagged cases.

Kanhaiya Lal, son of Chandrika Prasad and a resident of Sitkahna under Malhipur police station jurisdiction, was found guilty of forcibly entering a home and raping a minor, along with verbal abuse and threats to life and property. The case was registered at Malhipur police station as FIR number 545/2022 under sections 376, 452, 504, 506 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3/4 of the POCSO Act. The verdict was delivered by the Additional Sessions Judge and Special POCSO Court in Shravasti.

The conviction is part of Operation Conviction, monitored at the state level by the DGP in Lucknow, the Additional Director General of Police for the Gorakhpur Zone, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Devipatan Range. Superintendent of Police Rahul Bhati has been personally supervising important and flagged cases in the district to ensure swift justice. Additional Superintendent of Police Chandrakesh Singh, along with station house officers and court prosecutors, have been directed to ensure effective prosecution.

The successful conviction was achieved through coordinated efforts of the district monitoring cell, the government advocate, and court prosecutors. The operation aims to expedite convictions in serious crimes, particularly those involving violence against women and children, sending a strong message that perpetrators will face stringent legal consequences. The Shravasti police have emphasised their commitment to bringing offenders to justice under the ongoing campaign.