Man jailed for 10 years for rape in Meghalaya

Shillong, Sep 28 (IANS) A Meghalaya court has sentenced a man convicted of raping a minor school girl to 10 years rigorous imprisonment after a Fast Track Court had acquitted him.

On November 30, 2011, Small Phawa raped the 14-year-old in a forested area after abducting her. The minor was staying as a tenant along with her parents in Phawa’s house at Riatsiatsim in West Jaintia Hills district.

In a judgment pronounced on Tuesday, District and Sessions Court in West Jaintia Hills Judge B. Giri said: "Taking into consideration the nature of the offence, ends of justice will be met if the accused is sentenced to a period of 10 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000 and in default of payment of fine the accused is to serve another one year simple imprisonment."

In 2015, the Fast Track Court in Jowai acquitted Phawa after the prosecution failed to establish or prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

However, the victim’s mother approached the Meghalaya High Court, which transferred the case to the district session court of West Jaintia Hills and ordered retrial.

The court said the victim should be given compensation under the Meghalaya Victim Compensation Scheme, 2014.

"The victim in this case is to be given compensation of Rs one lakh to be paid by the District Legal Service Authority of West Jaintia hills district within 90 days," the court said.