A special POCSO court in Bhopal on Tuesday convicted 28-year-old Satnam Singh for the rape of a minor girl aboard the Jhelum Express in 2022. The Thirteenth Additional Sessions Judge sentenced Singh to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000, finding him guilty under Section 376(1) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The horrific incident occurred on July 18, 2022. The survivor, who was traveling alone on Train No. 11078 (Jhelum Express), felt hungry but lacked the money to purchase food. During a halt at Bhopal station, she went to drink water and then returned to her seat near the AC coach gate. It was there that Singh, a co-passenger, allegedly lured her to the pantry car under the pretext of offering food, where he then sexually assaulted her. Following the crime, the survivor bravely reported the incident to the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Bhusaval. After jurisdictional verification, GRP Habibganj Police registered an FIR (No. 126/2022) under Section 376(1) of the IPC and Sections 5/6 of the POCSO Act. The prosecution of the case was led by Special Public Prosecutor Tribhuvan Prasad Gautam, who was assisted by Sarla Kahar and Laxmi Kasav. The courts conviction of Satnam Singh relied heavily on a combination of scientific evidence, compelling witness testimonies, and the powerful statement provided by the survivor. This verdict marks the culmination of a three-year legal battle, serving as a stark reminder of the persistent need for enhanced safety measures for women and minors utilizing public transport. Authorities have been urged to significantly strengthen surveillance and security protocols on trains to prevent such heinous crimes in the future and ensure passenger safety.

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