Youth gets life term for raping 9-yr-old girl

Trichy: A 25-year-old man was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in Trichy on Wednesday for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl near Kollidam river bridge two years ago. The incident took place on Aug 17, 2024. According to sources, the Class IV student, who was living with her grandparents, went missing. Her grandfather subsequently filed a complaint with the police. The girl returned home the next morning with injuries on her body. She revealed that a youth had abducted and allegedly raped her under the Kollidam bridge near No. 1 Tollgate.Based on the complaint, Srirangam All Women Police conducted an investigation and arrested S Chinnaraja, then aged 23, from Uyyakondan Thirumalai. He was booked under Pocso Act and the TNPWH Act. Chinnaraja was working at a hotel in Erode and had come to his relative's house in Trichy on Aug 17. At that time, he got acquainted with the girl near the relative's house, bought her snacks, and later raped her, police said.The trial was held at Trichy mahila court. The judge delivered the verdict on Wednesday, convicting Chinnaraja and sentencing him to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs2,000. He was also awarded a concurrent sentence of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs1,000.