Man sentenced to life for sexual assault on minor in Bahraieh

A special court in Bahraieh district has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for committing sexual assault on a minor under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The convict, Kamal Kumar Mishra, resident of Dulamha village under Kotwali Dehat police station jurisdiction, has also been fined a total of 1,05,000 rupees. The conviction was delivered on January 25, 2025, by the Additional District and Sessions Judge Sunil Kumar-XII, presiding over the Fast Track Court-II (POCSO Court No. 1) in Bahraieh.

The case originated from a complaint filed by the victim's mother at Kotwali Dehat police station on September 25, 2024, alleging that Mishra had molested her minor daughter, attempted to sexually assault her, and assaulted the complainant when she protested. A First Information Report was registered under sections 74, 115(2), 352, and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with sections 7 and 8 of the POCSO Act. Following investigation by Sub-Inspector Ravi Kumar Yadav, which included evidence collection and witness testimonies, a charge sheet was filed on October 4, 2024, under amended sections 65(2), 115(2), 352, 351(3) BNS and sections 5(m) and 6 of the POCSO Act. The court framed charges on November 19, 2024.

The conviction was secured under "Operation Conviction," a special campaign launched by Bahraieh police under the directives of Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police and Bahraieh Superintendent of Police Vishwajeet Srivastava. The campaign focuses on ensuring maximum and swift punitive action against accused persons in identified cases. Special Public Prosecutor Surendra Kumar Maurya effectively argued the prosecution's case.

Under section 6 of the POCSO Act, Mishra received rigorous life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life and a fine of 1,00,000 rupees, with an additional six months' imprisonment in case of non-payment. He was also sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined 5,000 rupees under section 115(2) BNS for criminal intimidation, with one additional month if the fine remains unpaid.