Meerut, July 18 -- A special Pocso court in Meerut on Thursday sentenced a 24-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting six-year-old girl in Hasthinapur police jurisdiction nearly one year ago. Special POCSO court Judge, Yashpal Singh Lodhi, additionally imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the man. According to special public prosecutor Akash Agarwal, the incident occurred on the evening of July 6, 2024, when the child was alone at her home. "The convict, Ankit Kumar alias Kala, sneaked into victim's house after her parents left to collect fodder. He sexually assaulted the girl and threatened to kill her if she told about this to anyone. However, the girl narrated the ordeal to parents after they reached home. When they confronted the convict, he beat them up as well," said Agarwal. The victim's parents subsequently filed a police complaint, leading to the registration of an FIR under BNS sections 65 (2) (Rape), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) and 5M/6 Pocso act. The authorities apprehended the accused shortly after the incident. Agarwal further said that the court's decision was supported by testimonies from seven witnesses, including the victim, police officers, medical examiners, and clinical reports. "The evidence presented in court, including witness testimonies and forensic findings, led to a firm conviction. The convict pleaded for mercy, which the court denied, considering the crime heinous," Agarwal said....