Mumbai: In a recent order, a special POCSO court in Mumbai has sentenced a man to 1/2 for sexually assaulting a minor student. He has been sentenced to 5 years in prison. During the sentencing, the court said that addressing a girl as an 'item' is only to objectify her with sexual intent. The man, who lives in the girl's neighbourhood, was accused of teasing the victim while she was on her way to school and coming in 2015 when she was 16.

On July 14, 2015, when the victim was on her way back from school, the accused stopped her and asked her if the item was going where. When she told the man not to disturb her, he started abusing her and pulled her hair. After which he called the police helpline number 100 and pleaded for help. The police reached the spot but the accused had fled. He went home and informed his father, after which he lodged a complaint with the police station in the western suburbs of the city.

The accused has been booked under sections 354 (sexual harassment), 354(d) (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 504 (intentional insult) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant charges of protection of children and the Sexual Offences Act case. The court acquitted the accused of other charges but evidence has also been found against him under Section 354 of the IPC and POCSO Act.

The court noted that the accused addressed the girl by using the word 'item', which is a term commonly used by boys to address girls in a derogatory manner as it was also objecting them in a sexual manner. This clearly indicates her intention to break her modesty. "I am of the clear view that the prosecution is competent to prove the fact that the accused has humiliated the victim on a particular day, time and place, as alleged. The court has said that leniency cannot be shown on the accused as the case is related to the harassment of a minor girl on the road. The court has said that such crimes need to be dealt with sternly as such roadside Romeos need to be taught a lesson to protect women from their inappropriate behaviour.

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