Three awarded 10 years’ RI for gangraping 19-yr-old

Press Trust of India, Mon, Sep 12, 2011, New Delhi:

Three youths have been sentenced to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court for gangraping a 19-year-old girl at knife point.

District Judge P S Teji passed the sentence on East Delhi residents Nesar (20), Sunny (22) and Mukesh (20) after convicting them for raping the girl in a slum while she was on her way home from work. “In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, all the convicts are hereby awarded rigorous imprisonment for a period of 10 years, and a fine of Rs 5,000 each for the offence punishable under Section 376(2)(g) of the IPC (punishment for gang rape),” the judge said.

Police had lodged the FIR in the case on October 25, 2009.

The victim, a domestic help, had told police that on the night of October 24, 2009, she was returning to her residence in Kalyanpuri jhuggi around 9 pm when she was accosted by the trio, who were known to her. She said they dragged her into a nearby hut and raped her at knifepoint.

During the trial, the accused said they were being falsely implicated, and the victim was only “taking revenge” on account of a fight they had with one of her friends.

The judge, however, preferred to believe the victim’s version, stating that in Indian society, “no girl would make such allegations as she is aware of the repercussions”.

“If her allegation is found to be false, she would be looked at with contempt by the society throughout her life. For an unmarried girl, it will be difficult to find a suitable groom. Therefore, unless an offence has really been committed, the girl or woman would be extremely reluctant even to say such a thing, which is likely to reflect on her chastity,” the judge said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/three-awarded-10-years-ri-for-gangraping-19/845142/