Balapur rape accused gets life imprisonment under POCSO
HYDERABAD: A special fast-track court for rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases in L.B. Nagar sentenced three persons in a minor rape and forced abortion case registered at Balapur police station.
The court convicted Mohammed Azeem, 25, the prime accused, and sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹22,000. Two other accused Mohammed Haleem, 31, and Jameela Begum, 60 were sentenced to three years in prison and fined ₹6,000 each.
The court also directed authorities to pay ₹4 lakh compensation to the survivor.
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Repeated assaults on minor
According to police, the case was registered as Crime No. 388/2021 under Sections 312, 376(2)(n), 506 read with 109 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 5 read with 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012.
Police said the complainant, mother of the 16-year-old survivor, had been living separately from her husband, Shaik Arshad, due to family disputes. She worked as a domestic worker and used to leave her children at her mother’s house in Abubakar Colony, Kothapet village in Balapur mandal of Rangareddy district while she was away for work.
During one visit to the house, the complainant found her elder daughter crying. On questioning, the girl told her mother that her maternal uncle, Mohammed Azeem, had repeatedly raped her after threatening to kill her if she disclosed the assaults to anyone.
Forced abortion alleged
Police said the survivor was later taken to hospital after complaining of severe stomach pain. Doctors confirmed that she was pregnant.
When the complainant confronted her mother and brothers over the incident, they allegedly threatened her and the survivor with serious consequences. Investigators said the accused later brought abortion tablets and forced the survivor to consume them.
Following the complaint, Balapur police registered a case and launched an investigation.
Investigation and prosecution
The prosecution told the court that coordinated efforts by police officers, prosecutors and Bharosa Centre officials helped secure the conviction.
The investigation was handled by Bhaskar, then inspector of Balapur police station and currently SHO of Yadadri police station, and Purushottam Reddy, then Vanasthalipuram ACP and currently DSP, Jagtial.
Additional Public Prosecutor P. Satyanarayana, Public Prosecutor K. Pratap Reddy, legal counsellor Dhriti Choudhary and the Bharosa team assisted the prosecution.
Court duty officer K. Srinivas Reddy and summons duty officer K. Ramdas also coordinated the trial process.
Officials said Women Safety DCP Lavanya NJP, Women Safety ACP Prasanna Lakshmi, Bharosa inspector Padma Palle and centre administrator G. Jyothi monitored the case proceedings.
Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar congratulated the investigation officers, court staff, prosecutors and Bharosa Centre officials for securing the conviction.
