Dimapur Fastrack Special Court convicts man in POCSO Case
Dimapur, May 30 (MExN): A special court has sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for the “repeated sexual assault and criminal intimidation” of a minor girl, with the conviction based on DNA evidence linking the convict to the newborn baby of the survivor.
The office of the Special Public Prosecutor Imlimongla in a statement said that the Fastrack Special Court, Dimapur, convicted Pipenthung Lotha, also known as Dipen Mech, under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and imposed an additional three years under Section 506 IPC. Both sentences will run concurrently at Central Jail, Dimapur, Special Judge Khesheli Chishi ruled.
The case stemmed from an investigation led by Investigating Officer (IO) SI Tsukhumla of the Women Police Station, Dimapur. The IO meticulously assembled the evidence, capturing critical witness statements and securing vital medical and forensic testimonies after an advanced, seven-month pregnancy was discovered during a medical examination.
In the courtroom, Special Public Prosecutor Imlimongla established the state’s case by presenting an airtight narrative backed by a Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report, which proved that the genetic profile of the convict matched the newborn baby boy, providing irrefutable scientific proof of the assaults.
The defence contended that the relationship was consensual and attempted to delay proceedings by challenging the age-verification documents. While the court granted a technical discharge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, citing legal deficiencies in the birth certificate and ossification report formats, it categorically rejected the claim of a “consensual affair.”
In an “emotionally telling moment” during the trial, the survivor refused to look even at a photograph of the accused for identification. The prosecution successfully argued that this visceral aversion was a powerful indicator of extreme trauma and deep-seated dread, entirely shattering the defense’s manufactured narrative of a consensual romantic relationship.
The convict chose to remain silent during his examination under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The court ruled that by abstaining from facing cross-examination or confronting the evidence directly, the convict entirely failed to prove his innocence.
Delivering the judgment, Special Judge Khesheli Chishi took serious note of the survivor’s psychological impact of the crime, observing that her distinct avoidance of the accused during trial reflected “extreme trauma and fear.” The court held that this conduct validated the consistency of the forced assaults and completely demolishing any claims of consent.
“This demonstrates that tactical manoeuvres by the defense cannot obscure the truth when met with a diligent investigation and conclusive forensic science,” the Special Public Prosecutor said in the statement.
