Chandigarh, Feb. 19 -- Observing that the convict had shown his wicked and evil mind by subjecting a child to penetrative sexual assault, a special fast-track POCSCO court on Tuesday sentenced a 45-year-old man to 20 years in prison for sodomising a minor boy in November 2022.

The hand of justice need not be tampered with mercy in such cases, remarked the court of additional sessions judge Yashika while pronouncing the stern verdict. It also imposed a fine of Rs.20,000 on the convict, Islak, an e-rickshaw driver and father of five children.

Islak was booked under Sections 377 (unnatural offences) and 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit and offence) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 (penetrative sexual...