Youth gets 7-yr RI for minors' rape

Mangaluru: A POSCO court, on Wednesday, sentenced a rape accused to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, under Section 4 of the Pocso Act in connection with the kidnap of a minor girl, forcing her into a marriage and subsequently raping her.

The convicted Sangamesh Koppad, 28, a Bagalkote native was employed as a coolie in and around Surathkal. 

Additionally, the court also awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment for rape under IPC Section 376, and five years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping under IPC Section 366. The three sentences will run concurrently. He has also been asked to pay a fine of Rs 12,500 for the three offences, of which Rs 10,000 will be given to the victim as compensation, the judge noted. The victim is also entitled to compensation under the District Legal Services Authority.

According to the charge-sheet filed by the Surathkal police, Koppad had developed an acquaintance with the minor girl, who was employed at a shop in Surathkal and proposed marriage to her. However following her denial Koppad on March 12, 2014, abducted her took her to a temple in Belagavi and forcibly married her. Later, he raped her at a nearby hotel room.

Following a missing complaint filed by the girls’ parents, the Surathkal police traced the two and apprehended Koppad.