Tripura man gets death for rape and murder of minor under Pocso

AGARTALA: In the first ever death sentence awarded for a crime under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in Tripura, a fast-track court on Wednesday sentenced a 27-year-old man to death for rape and murder of a minor last year. The court also awarded life sentence and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000.
Sanjoy Tanti, a resident of Mandaptilla area of Maheshpur tea estate in Dharmanagar, had abducted the six-year-old on September 24.The minor's mutilated body was found three days later in a forested area near her house in the same neighbourhood. The police had filed the chargesheet in April this year.
Soon after the recovery of the body, Tanti went missing which led the cops to suspect his role. He was subsequently arrested from a nearby village. During interrogation he broke down and confessed to the crime. Altogether 21 witnesses were examined by the court along with the evidence on record.
The investigating officer, Apu Pal, told the court that Sanjoy had lured the girl, who was from his neighbourhood, while she was playing with others. He took her to a deserted place then raped and strangled her.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)