A 27-year-old autorickshaw driver was sentenced to imprisonment for 27 years by District and Session Judge Thomas Pallickaparabil on Wednesday for raping a minor girl. The victim was a 14-year-old girl and a ninth class school student. The incident happened in June 2007.
The convict, Shibu, a native of Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram district, was working as an autorickshaw driver at Pathanapuram then. He constantly made advances to the ninth class student while she was on her way to school. One day while she was alone in her house, he barged in on her and raped her after promising to marry her.
He threatened her that he would kill her if she revealed the incident to anyone. Afterwards, he abducted her on the same promise and took her to Vamapuram and made her live with him under threats. During the stay he repeatedly raped her. As per the police investigation, the victim escaped from there and managed to reach her home.
The police investigation revealed that Shibu was married and had a child. The police investigation was led by the then Punalur Circle Inspector Jawhar Janardh. Advocate P.B. Sivan appeared for the prosecution. The case came up for trial before the special court constituted for the trial of sexual abuse of minors. Mr. Pallikaparambil is also the judge of the special court.
