Man gets 10-yr jail for sodomising kid

A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced a man to 10 years' rigorous jail for sodomising a four-year-old girl, saying that crime against the fair sex needed to be severely dealt with.

A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced a man to 10 years' rigorous jail for sodomising a four-year-old girl, saying that crime against the fair sex needed to be severely dealt with.

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Relying on the sole deposition of the child, the court sentenced 35-year-old Abdul Alim to the rigorous imprisonment saying that the accused could not be shown sympathy as sexual violence has a life long traumatic effect on young victims.

"Sexual activities with young girls of immature age have a traumatic effect, which often persists throughout life. Sexual violence is ... an unlawful encroachment into the right to privacy and sanctity of females. The courts should be strict and vigilant to protect society from such evils," ASJ Nisha Saxena said.

The court, awarding the jail term to Alim, said the quantum of punishment must be decided on the basis of the accused's conduct. "The measure of punishment in a case of rape cannot depend upon social status of the victim or accused. It must depend on the conduct of the accused, the state and age of the assaulted female and gravity of criminal act. Crimes of violence on women need to be severely dealt with," it said.

Alim, a father of five, had taken the child, his neighbour's daughter, to his room on June 23, 2010, and sodomised her.

The court said, "It must not be overlooked that a woman or girl subjected to sexual assault is not an accomplice to the crime, but a victim of another person's lust."