A man was found guilty of sexually harassing minor boys and was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and was also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 by Pocso Court (Fast Track Special Court-1) Judge Yadav Vanamala Anandrao.
The convict Chandra Hemmady, 42, was convicted in the first of the 21 similar cases registered against him under the Pocso Act. Out of 36 witnesses, including 15 victims, had testified before the court in the first case. The trial in the remaining 20 cases is underway.
The convict visited villages in the guise of a journalist and promised villagers of highlighting problems in their localities with his articles. The boys sent to show him around ended up being sexually assaulted by Chandru.
As many as 21 parents had filed complaints against him in Byndoor, Gangolli, Kollur and Kundapur police station limits.
The district administration had facilitated counselling for traumatised 21 children in Kundapur, Byndoor, Gangolli and Kollur police station limits.
About 16 victims were said to have sexually assaulted by Chandru under Byndoor police station limits alone.
Chandru initially confessed to having abused 12 children, but in police custody, he confessed to sexually assaulting 21 children.
(Published 08 March 2021, 19:44 IST)
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