Shillong, Jan 22: A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has sentenced a man to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for the rape of a minor, concluding a case that began with the child being reported missing from Ladrymbai in 2023.
The court of Special Judge (POCSO) B Khriamn, based in Khliehriat, found Kmenlang Sana, also known as Lang Sana, guilty under Section 376AB of the Indian Penal Code and Section 6 of the POCSO Act. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of ₹30,000.
The case dates back to May 2023, when a complaint was lodged at the Khliehriat Women Police Station by Salbina Dkhar, who reported that her minor niece had gone missing from their residence at around 6.30 am on May 4. Following the complaint, police registered a case on May 6 and initiated an investigation under stringent provisions of the IPC and the POCSO Act.
The investigation was led by Women Police Sub-Inspector L. Siangshai, who gathered evidence and recorded statements before filing the charge sheet on October 30, 2023. The trial proceeded thereafter, with the court examining the material on record before delivering its verdict and sentence.
Officials from the office of the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills, said the case was investigated thoroughly and described the judgment as a reflection of the firm approach being taken against crimes involving children. They added that the conviction sends a strong message about accountability and the legal consequences of sexual offences against minors in the district.
