A fast-track court in Taliparamba, Kannur district, has sentenced madrasa teacher Mohammed Rafi to 187 years’ imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting a minor girl over a period of nearly two years during the COVID-19 lockdown. He was a repeat offender.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, April 8, found Rafi guilty on seven counts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The prosecution stated that Rafi began sexually abusing the girl in March 2020, when she was 14 years old and at the end of her Class 7. The abuse continued until December 2021. Rafi had threatened to curse her if she told anyone, which prevented her from speaking out earlier.
The case was registered at Payyannur Police Station, and the investigation was led by Station House Officer, Inspector T N Santoshkumar.
The court awarded the following sentences:
50 years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 5(t) of the POCSO Act (for repeat offenders committing penetrative sexual assault on a child);
25 years under Section 376(3) of the IPC (for raping a child below 16 years);
2 years under Section 506(2) of the IPC (for criminal intimidation);
35 years each under Sections 5(l) and 5(f) of the POCSO Act (for repeated rape by a person in a position of trust, such as a teacher);
20 years for penetrative sexual assault;
20 years for forced oral sex.
The public prosecutor clarified that the sentences will run concurrently, meaning Rafi will serve 50 years in prison.
Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs 9.10 lakh across the seven charges. Rafi had earlier been convicted for sexually assaulting another minor student at a madrasa under the Valapattanam Police Station jurisdiction. At the time of this trial, he was out on parole in connection with that case. Both offences were committed before his first conviction, establishing a clear pattern of predatory behaviour.
This case is one among the several cases where a madrasa teacher has been handed such a severe sentence under the POCSO Act—setting a strong example of strict judicial action against child sexual offenders.
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