A Fast Track Special Court (FTSC-2) in Mangaluru sentenced 30-year-old Mansoor, alias Mohammad Mansoor alias Zabeer, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment on July 30 for raping a 16-year-old girl in 2023. The court, presided over by Judge Manu K S, also imposed a Rs 50,000 fine under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and an additional one-year sentence with a Rs 5,000 fine under IPC Section 506 for criminal intimidation.

The case, registered on December 23, 2023, at Mangaluru Women’s Police Station, stemmed from a complaint by the survivor, who alleged that Mansoor raped her on May 30, 2023, in Sajipanadu village, Bantwal taluk, and recorded the assault on video while threatening her life. The accused, charged under POCSO Sections 4 and 6 (penetrative sexual assault) and IPC Sections 376 (rape) and 506, evaded arrest for eight months until July 2, 2024, when he was apprehended by a team led by Inspectors Gururaj and Rajendra B.

The prosecution, represented by Government Prosecutor Badrinath and Special Public Prosecutor Sahanadevi Boluru, presented a robust case, supported by 22 witnesses, including the survivor, her mother, and a doctor who confirmed the assault. The 150-day trial culminated in a 30-page verdict, with the court noting the survivor’s consistent testimony and forensic evidence, including the recovered video. The Rs 50,000 fine will compensate the victim, as per POCSO guidelines.

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This conviction aligns with Karnataka’s stringent approach to POCSO cases. In 2024, Mangaluru courts delivered 14 convictions in similar cases, with sentences ranging from 7 to 20 years. The state’s 45 POCSO courts, handling 1,773 cases in 2024, reflect a 92% charge-sheeting rate within 60 days, though conviction rates hover at 31%. Judge Manu emphasized speedy justice, noting the trial’s completion within 13 months of the charge sheet filed on August 25, 2024.

The verdict has been hailed by local activists, with Child Welfare Committee member Shalini K praising the court’s sensitivity. However, concerns persist over victim rehabilitation, with calls for enhanced counseling and educational support. Mansoor, a daily wage worker with prior petty theft charges, faces concurrent sentences, with credit for time served in custody.

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