Teenager sentenced to 80 years in prison for repeatedly sexually harassing his underage cousin

Kannur: A fast-track special court in Taliparamba, Kannur, sentenced a 26-year-old man to 80 years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing his minor cousin during the Covid pandemic from 2021 to January 2022.

Special Judge Rajesh R found the man, hailing from Madakkara in Irinavu, guilty of three counts of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of sexual assault on Thursday, September 5.

The convicted man first attacked the girl when she was 14 years old and in 9th grade; he was 24 at the time, said Sherymol Jose, the prosecutor responsible for sex crimes against children.

He was the son of the girl's maternal aunt, who had passed away years ago. In the second half of 2021, he came to his aunt's ancestral home for an Ayurvedic massage after being beaten by the brothers of a girl he was dating, the prosecutor said. During that time, he repeatedly abused and assaulted the girl.

The crime came to light when the girl lost interest in her studies and frequently became angry at home. An ASHA worker took her for counselling and she narrated her ordeal, said Adv Sherymol Jose.

Pazhayangadi police station registered the FIR and Inspector Rajagopal ME arrested the accused and filed the chargesheet.

The convict was awarded 20 years imprisonment each under Section 5(l), (n) and (p) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Assault (POCSO) Act and 10 years imprisonment each under Section 3(a) and (b). Since the sentences will be served concurrently, he will have to spend only 20 years in jail. He was convicted and sentenced when he was engaged to another woman.