Papum Pare, June 8:
A Special POCSO Court in Papum Pare district delivered a landmark verdict this Monday, sentencing a 37-year-old man, Tayo Pordung, to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life for the systemic sexual abuse of his minor stepdaughter.
Special Judge (POCSO) Dr. Hirendra Kashyap handed down the sentence following Pordung’s conviction under Section 376(3) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), read in conjunction with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict.
Case Background
The horrific ordeal came to light in June 2024, when the victim, then 14 years old, finally mustered the courage to disclose the abuse to her mother. Following the revelation, the mother promptly lodged a formal complaint at the Women Police Station in Itanagar.
The investigation revealed that the accused had been sexually assaulting the victim since she was approximately 11 years old. Throughout this three-year period of abuse, Pordung utilized coercive tactics, repeatedly threatening to kill both the victim and other family members to ensure her silence.
Investigation and Trial
The case was assigned to Sub-Inspector Bamang Yakum. Notably, this investigation marked a significant milestone, as it was the first case handled by the newly recruited officer.
During the trial, the prosecution led by Special Public Prosecutor Kagam Bagra, presented a robust case by examining four key witnesses:
The victim
The victim’s mother
The medical officer
The investigating officer
The court concluded that the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Pordung exploited his position of trust as a stepfather to subject the child to repeated aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
Verdict and Judicial Observation
In his ruling, Judge Dr. Hirendra Kashyap rejected the defense’s plea for leniency. The court underscored the heinous nature of the crimes, noting the profound psychological and physical harm inflicted upon the victim. The judge further remarked on the complete lack of remorse displayed by the convict, explicitly stating that he was not entitled to any relief under probation laws.
In addition to the POCSO charges, Pordung was found guilty of:
Criminal Intimidation (Section 506 IPC)
Cruelty to a Child (Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act)
The court has directed that the victim be considered for support under the Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme. The convict was formally informed of his right to challenge the verdict by filing an appeal before the Gauhati High Court.
