Bus conductor gets 10 years RI for raping minor

Panaji: A Pocso court has sentenced a bus conductor to 10 years of rigrous imprisonment for rape of a 17-year-old girl last year. The accused was 22 years old and known to the survivor. The incident came to light only after the girl got pregnant and had a natural miscarriage, after which an inquiry was conducted.The court held that since the survivor is a minor, her consent for sex is irrelevant. “...whether the accused had sex with her consent while she was conscious or by giving her a drink that made her dizzy is immaterial. Therefore, conducting a blood test of the survivor is a futile exercise,” said the court. It further held that the survivor habitually running away and her character are irrelevant to this case.Public prosecutor, S Nagvenkar, argued that maximum sentence should be imposed to send a clear message to society as the offence is heinous and has been committed against a child. The accused’s lawyer, however, challenged that there was no intent to sexually assault the girl, and that the accused is the sole bread winner for his family.