Lucknow: A special POCSO court in Lucknow sentenced two men to rigorous life imprisonment for kidnapping and gang-raping an 11-year-old girl, in a conviction officials said was secured under the Operation Conviction campaign.The convicts, Rameshwar Rawat, 28, and Anuj Rawat, 21, residents of Khandedev village in Banthra, were found guilty under IPC Sections 363, 366A and 376D(B) and Sections 5/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The case was registered at Banthra police station in 2022 after the minor was abducted and sexually assaulted, police said.In a verdict delivered on July 14, the court of the Special Judge (POCSO Act)/Additional Sessions Judge, Lucknow, imposed rigorous life imprisonment on both men and levied a fine of ₹65,000 each. The court directed that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional jail term of one year and five months. It also ordered that the period already spent in custody during trial be adjusted against the sentence.Police said the outcome followed coordinated work between the investigating team and prosecutors. Officials credited Banthra SHO Rana Rajesh Kumar, court staff and constable Ajay Pratap Singh for sustained follow-up.Additional DCP (South Zone) Vasanth Kumar said Operation Conviction focuses on expediting trials and improving conviction rates in grave crimes, especially against women and children.
