HYDERABAD: For the first time in Telangana, a child marriage case ended in the conviction of the accused. The special court for Pocso Act cases on Friday sentenced a man accused of marrying his minor cousin and sexually assaulting her, as well as his parents to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for 20 years.
The girl’s father who was accused of forcing the girl into marriage was sentenced to two years imprisonment. Her mother was acquitted. The court awarded ₹ 5 lakh compensation to the victim.
In September 2018, on a complaint from the child Welfare department officials, the Chatrinaka police of Hyderabad city registered a case against the girl’s husband, in-laws and her parents. Inquiries revealed that the girl, who was then 14, wanted to study but her parents decided to get her married. The accused’s family were immediate relatives to her mother and they assured her that the victim could continue her studies after marriage.
However, they confined her to household chores and allegedly harassed her. Further, her husband, who was then 22 and was working as a painter, sexually assaulted her multiple times. Unable to bear the harassment and not wanting to stay away from school, the victim approached the child welfare department who lodged a police complaint.
Police completed the investigation and filed a chargesheet against the husband, in-laws and her parents. During the trial, the girl detailed to the court how she was harassed. This was corroborated by the evidence submitted by the police. Appreciating the evidence, the court awarded a conviction to the accused said special public prosecutor K. Prathap Reddy.
