Life term to home guard for sexual assault

₹ 7 lakh compensation awarded to physically challenged minor victim

Tukaramgate police of Hyderabad secured conviction of life-imprisonment to a home guard, who was accused of sexually assaulting a minor tribal girl and held guilty of the charge, on Wednesday. First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Nampally Kunchala Sunitha also handed down a sentence of 30 years of rigorous imprisonment to accused home guard Botla Mallikarjun, holding him guilty under the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The convict was also sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment of two years for criminal intimidation. A total of ₹50,000 was imposed as fine on him. Out of this, ₹40,000 should be paid to the victim towards compensation for her mental agony, the judge said. All the jail terms run concurrently. The life imprisonment was awarded under Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Amendment Act-2015.