Puducherry man gets life until death for raping girl suffering from learning difficulties

PUDUCHERRY: A fast track court in Puducherry dealing with cases booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, sentenced a 38-year-old man to life imprisonment until death for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl suffering from learning difficulties.Fast track court Judge M D Sumathi sentenced the man, identified as Santhosh alias Thomas Santhosh, to one year of rigorous imprisonment for confining the girl in his custody. Both terms will run concurrently. The judge directed the govt to pay compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the minor survivor.According to the special public prosecutor S Patcheappan, Santhosh lured the mentally girl by giving her chocolate, took her to his house and committed aggravated penetrative sexual assault on Sept 4, 2021.The girl narrated the incident to her mother, who lodged a complaint with the police, following which Orleanpet police booked the plumber under Section 6 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of the Pocso Act and Section 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) of the IPC.