Three men were convicted of crimes committed against children in Ri-Bhoi, the district Superintendent of Police informed today. A fourth person was convicted of causing grievous hurt but details of the victim were not revealed.
The four are Annias, alias Donboklang Lapang, of Umsning Proper-A; Dameialamlynti Shadap, known as Bah Heh, of Kyrdem village; Spearlinlang Pariong of Umktieh village; and Samson Kharhujon (residence not provided).
The first two persons were convicted of crimes under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The complaint against Lapang was filed in October 2018 and, after investigation by police, he was charge-sheeted in April 2019 and then found guilty. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for one of the crimes, charged under Section 376AB of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which relates to rape of a female under 12 years of age. He also received 10 years and seven years of rigorous imprisonment under different sections of the IPC as well as fines amounting to Rs 3 lakh.
Separately, a case was filed against Shadap in March 2018 under the POCSO Act and IPC wherein he was convicted. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for one of the charges, two years rigorous imprisonment in the other and to pay fines of Rs 1.20 lakh to each victim (number of victims was not revealed).
In a third case, Pariong had a complaint registered against him under Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act (to assault, abandon, abuse or willfully neglect a child under their control) in August 2022. He was charged in September of that year, convicted and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of two years under the JJ Act and two years under the IPC.
Lastly, Kharhujon was charged in February 2017 accused of causing grievous hurt. He was convicted and sentenced to on year rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000.