‘Children below 12 years are asexual, can’t recognise disguised love’
The Hindu
Delhi court convicts 28-year-old man of sexually assaulting 11-year-old
Noting that children under the age of 12 years are “asexual” and take time to recognise that the disguised love, affection or warmth by the perpetrator is “wrongful or sinful”, a Delhi court has convicted a 28-year-old man of sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2017.
The order, passed by Principal District and Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma on February 15, also noted that on becoming aware of the act’s implication, “the next stage is that of putting up resistance and reporting the incident to the near and dear ones”.
Observing that minor victims of sexual assault often find it difficult to express themselves for a variety of reasons, the court stated: “When someone close to the family subjects them [children] to sexual abuse, they are reluctant to discuss it with their parents as they are unsure of how their parents would react.”
According to the case records, on June 27, 2017, the convict, Mustkim, sexually assaulted the minor daughter of a neighbour on the terrace of his building in Nangloi. The girl was 11-year-old at that time.
The prosecution said the convict also threatened to kill her. Thereby, he was booked under the POCSO Act and Section 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of IPC. The chargesheet in the case was filed in August 2017.
The court said it is unable to persuade itself to find any blemishes in the testimony of the victim so as to find her story unreliable. “She [victim] did not depose in a parrot-like manner and there is nothing to suggest that she had been tutored by her mother or anyone else,” the judge said while observing that the victim’s testimony is of “sterling quality” and “has the ring of truth”.
“The testimony of the prosecutrix read as a whole leaves an impression that in her girlish manner she narrated the incidents of sexual assault in a very cogent and reliable manner and there are no inconsistencies that would go to the root of the matter and make her testimony unreliable,” the judge stated in his order.
Tamil Nadu commits to enhanced collaboration with the National Green Tribunal for effective environmental governance and protection initiatives.
On Ambedkar's death anniversary, CM Rekha Gupta highlights his enduring ideals of social harmony, equality, and justice.
The Banyan launches the Keshav Desiraju Lived Experience Repository in Chennai to preserve mental illness narratives across various formats.
MetLife Stadium will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 19, with 104 matches across North America.
Former IAS officer Pradeep Sharma sentenced to five years for money laundering, causing ₹1.20 crore loss to the government.
The Dr. Mrs. YGP Centenary Annual Festival of Music and Dance launched at PSBB, celebrating classical arts and education.
CMC hosts a torch rally with 125 volunteers in Vellore to celebrate 125 years of dedicated service.
Government Women's Polytechnic in Nellore faces urgent repairs, yet funds remain unrequested due to budget constraints, risking student safety.
Author Salma and ‘Ervadi’ S. Radhakrishnan honored with Kaviko award at a ceremony in Vellore, receiving recognition and cash prize.
Mangaluru police arrest four individuals and seize half a kg of MDMA worth ₹50 lakh intended for local youth.
Uddhav Thackeray calls for appointing Leaders of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, stressing the need for constitutional compliance ahead of the Winter Session.
Shashi Tharoor highlights English's significance in India, emphasizing its enriched lexicon through Indian word borrowings at a literature festival.
Cricket fans in Vizag enjoyed a thrilling ODI as Kohli, Rohit, and Jaiswal delivered memorable performances for Team India.