Kurnool:The Ongole POCSO Court sentenced an Army jawan to life imprisonment in a case involving sexual assault and murder of a young boy. The accused was also fined Rs 50,000 for his crime.
On January 22, 2022, Donapati Venkata Prashanth, a resident of Akkapalli village in Komarolu Mandal, committed the heinous act while on leave from his Army duties.
Prashanth, who had been serving in the Army since 2019, lured his 11-year-old cousin, with promises of a treat.
According to police, Prashanth took the boy on his motorcycle to a well on the outskirts of the village around 8 pm on the day. There, he sexually assaulted the child.
Fearing that the boy would report the act to his elders, Prashanth murdered him on the spot and disposed of the body by throwing it into the well.
Following a complaint by the family members, the police registered a case under Cr.No.11/2022 under sections 364, 377, 302, 201 of IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act 2012.
Then Markapuram DSP, Kishore Kumar, conducted a probe leading to the arrest of the accused. Prashanth was subsequently remanded to custody, and a charge sheet was filed in court.
The Ongole POCSO Court full additional dudge T. Raja Venkatadri delivered the verdict of life imprisonment along with the fine on Thursday.
The District Legal Service Authority has been recommended to provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim's family.
