MUVATTUPUZHA: The Muvattupuzha POCSO Court has sentenced a man to 80 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 55,000 for sexually assaulting a minor girl. Judge G Mahesh sentenced Idukki Vagamon native Manoj (48) in the case of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. Manoj is also facing trial for murdering an elderly woman.
The case involves the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old orphaned girl between July 2021 and December 2022. The victim has only one sister. The victim was studying at a school in Chinnakkal and was staying with her grandmother in a rented house in Pallichirangara during her vacation when the abuse occurred. Upon learning about the sexual abuse, the grandmother advised the girl to escape by going somewhere. The girl then fled with Tamil Nadu native Arun, who was staying at Thrikkalathoor, to Tenkasi.
After the girl went missing, the accused brutally attacked the elderly woman, resulting in her death from head injuries sustained after being slammed against the wall. The investigation carried out by the Muvattupuzha police uncovered the circumstances surrounding the murder and abuse. Upon taking the accused into custody, the police found out that the elderly woman's death was a murder.
Another POCSO case had been registered against Muvattupuzha Kaavunkara native Noorudheen, a friend of the accused who sexually abused the girl. A trial is pending in this case. Additionally, a case has been filed against Tamil Nadu native Arun, who took the minor girl to Tenkasi.