UTTAR PRADESH: A special court in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, India, has convicted a couple for the sexual abuse of 33 minors.
The court sentenced both the male and female defendants, Ram Bhawan and his wife Durga Wati, to the death penalty for their involvement in the crimes. The case, which involved children as young as three years old, has been termed “exceptionally rare” by the court due to the severity and organized nature of the abuse.
The couple was found guilty under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Investigations revealed that the crimes occurred between 2010 and 2020 in the Banda and Chitrakoot regions of Uttar Pradesh.
Ram Bhawan, a junior engineer in the irrigation department, reportedly enticed children with online games, gifts, and money. Many of the victims suffered severe physical injuries and some required extended hospital stays, while others have been left with long-term psychological trauma.
The court also ordered the state government to compensate the affected children, with each victim set to receive 1 million rupees. Additionally, the money recovered from the perpetrators’ home will be distributed equally among the victims.
The case was initially registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October 2020, which prioritized the investigation due to the seriousness of the offense. Authorities emphasized that they are committed to protecting the rights of the victims and ensuring strict action is taken in such cases.
