20-year jail term for elderly man in Pollachi child sexual abuse case

A 78-year-old retired electricity board employee in Pollachi was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for sexually abusing a 3.5-year-old girl in February. The court also imposed a fine and ordered compensation for the victim.


Coimbatore: In a shocking case of child sexual abuse, a 78-year-old retired electricity board employee has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 3.5-year-old girl in Pollachi, Coimbatore district.

The incident occurred in February when the victim's grandmother, who worked as a domestic help at the accused's house, brought the child to the residence in E.B. Nagar, Makkinampatti, Pollachi. The accused, identified as Murugan, sexually abused the child when she was playing on the first floor of the house.

Following the incident, the child's grandmother filed a complaint at the Pollachi All Women Police Station. The police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sections related to sexual assault. The case was then heard at the Coimbatore POCSO Court.

On July 31, Judge G. Kulasekharan delivered the verdict. In addition to the 20-year imprisonment, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on the convict. If the accused fails to pay the fine, he will have to serve an additional year in prison.

The court also ordered the payment of Rs. 5 lakh as compensation to the victim, along with the Rs. 10,000 fine amount. This decision aims to provide some financial support to the child and her family in the aftermath of this traumatic incident.

This case highlights the importance of child protection and the need for swift justice in cases of sexual abuse. It also serves as a reminder for parents and guardians to remain vigilant about the safety of young children, even in seemingly familiar environments.

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