Court martial sentences Army jawan to 20 years in Patiala Central Jail for sexual assault on minor

A general court martial has awarded 20 years rigorous imprisonment to an Army jawan after holding him guilty of sexually assaulting a minor, an official Friday said, terming the sentencing as the first of its kind. The jawan has also been dismissed from service.

The jawan, belonging to 65 Armoured Regiment and posted at 43 Armoured Brigade, was handed over to the authorities at Patiala Central Jail on Thursday after his sentence was confirmed and his pre-confirmation petition was rejected earlier this month by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Armoured Division, Maj Gen Puneet Ahuja.
The jawan, who held the rank of Dafadar, was also sentenced by the court martial to be reduced to ranks (demoted to lowest rank of Sowar). He was convicted under Section 69 of Army Act with the POCSO Act on five charges, which related to “committing a civil offence, that is to say aggravated penetrative sexual assault”.

The jawan was accused of having lured the minor child to his residential premises in Patiala and sexually assaulting her. The defence counsel had contended the charges saying that the wife and children of the jawan were at home when then alleged assault took place and this was not possible in their presence. The defence counsel also contended that no medical examination of the child had been conducted.

However, the court martial rejected the contentions and held the jawan guilty of the charges levelled against him.