Tamil Nadu: Man gets life term until death for raping 5-year-old

PUDUKOTTAI: The mahila court in Pudukottai district awarded life imprisonment until death to a 58-year-old man for raping a five-year-old girl in a village near Keeranur in Pudukottai district last year.
Mahila court judge R Sathya pronounced the judgement on C Murugappan, and also imposed a fine of Rs 70,000 to be paid by the accused failing which he should undergo one more year of jail term.
The crime took place on August 15, 2020 at the residence of the accused. The girl was alone at the house on that day as her mother had gone out on some work.
Murugappan persuaded the child to come with him to his house and sexually assaulted her.
As the girl screamed, the neighbours rushed to her rescue.
Her mother lodged a complaint with the all women police station (AWPS), Keeranur and the police registered a case against him under section of 5 (m) and 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
He was arrested and remanded in jail until he was convicted on Monday. Police said that the girl suffered pain due to the sexual assault and got treated at the hospital.
The judge also awarded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victim.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)