25-year RI for Nalanda man in sexual assault case

Biharsharif: A court in Biharsharif has sentenced a man to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor schoolgirl. The verdict was delivered by additional district and sessions judge-IV and special Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) judge Prakash Kumar Sinha on Tuesday.The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the convict, with an additional six months of imprisonment in case of default. Emphasising victim welfare, the court directed payment of compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the survivor, after adjusting any interim relief already provided.The case relates to the Harnaut police station area in Nalanda district. An FIR was registered on May 9, 2024, based on the survivor’s statement. According to the prosecution, the incident took place on April 6, when the 11-year-old student was at her school. The accused, Barhan Ram, allegedly lured her to a secluded location within the premises and committed the offence.The investigation was carried out by sub-inspector Mausam Kumari, who submitted a chargesheet supported by substantial evidence.During the trial, special POCSO public prosecutor Jagat Narayan Sinha, along with advocates Veermani Kumar and Mushtari Jabin, represented the prosecution. The court examined six witnesses during the proceedings.Relying on the evidence and witness testimonies, the court found the accused guilty and awarded a stringent sentence. The ruling is being seen as a strong message against crimes targeting children and has drawn attention across the region.