India, Feb. 9 -- A court in Ganderbal has sentenced a man to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, police said on Monday.

The Principal Sessions Judge, Ganderbal, awarded the sentence to Rouf Ahmad Ganaie, son of Bashir Ahmad Ganaie, a resident of Takiya Khalmulla Nagbal in Ganderbal district, under Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict.

Police said the conviction reflects strong and effective prosecution during the trial, leading to a successful outcome in a grave offence involving a minor.

The case was prosecuted by Public Prosecutor Shafat Ahmad Bhat, while Public Prosecutor Jehangir Rafiqi argued...