Jammu, Sept 13: A Fast Track Court in Jammu on Monday convicted a man from Bhalwal for kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl in 2018.

After convicting the man— Rakesh Kumar of Kaleri Bhalwal, the presiding officer of the court—Khalil Choudhary—has posted the matter with regard to the quantum of sentence tomorrow.

As per the prosecution story, the girl (name withheld) was sleeping in her home and was found missing in the morning in April 2018.

A hunt was laid by family members but all in vain. During the search, it came to know that the girl was kidnapped by one Rakesh Kumar who happened to be her neighbor, the prosecution said. Kumar was also missing from his house.

Based on a complaint by the girl’s father, police registered a case (FIR 35/2018) under section 363 RPC (kidnapping) and recovered his daughter from Ratlam Madhya Pradesh on 6 April 2018.

Subsequently, after medical examination of the girl, section 376 (rape) was added to the case and after completion of the investigation, a chargesheet under section 363/376 RPC was laid before the court of Sub Registrar JMIC Jammu on 31 May 2018 against the accused where from charge sheet was committed to the court of Principle Sessions Judge, Jammu.

Ultimately the case was transferred to the court of 3rd Additional Sessions Judge Jammu on 6 June 2018 and on 6 May 2021 it case was allocated to ‘Fast Track Court for trial of rape cases.

After hearing both the side, the presiding officer of the court Khalil Choudhary said that all the evidence on record “unerringly point towards the guilt of the accused (Kumar).”

“There is a complete chain of events to indicate that within all human probability the crime was committed by the accused and all the circumstances brought on record and established are consistent with the guilt of the accused and inconsistent with his innocence,” the court said adding, “He (Kumar) appears to be squarely liable for the commission of rape and kidnapping of the minor girl.”

Subsequently, the court convicted him for the offences under section 363/376 (1) RPC.

“Accordingly, matter with regard to the quantum of sentence will be heard 14.09.2021,” the court added. gns