Arunachal POCSO court awards death penalty to repeat offender for rape

A special POCSO court in Yupia convicted Lakang Tallang, 44, the victim’s maternal uncle, for repeatedly raping his minor relative in 2019. The court found he exploited a position of trust and called the offence a 'rarest of rare' case. He was convicted under IPC sections including rape by a person in a position of trust and criminal intimidation, read with section 6 of the POCSO Act. The court noted the victim’s testimony as credible and medical/forensic evidence corroborating the assault, including ossification test results indicating the victim was a minor at the time. The court held that life imprisonment would be inadequate given the gravity of the crime and sentenced Tallang to death, with a ₹1 lakh fine, and referred the case to Gauhati High Court for confirmation of the death sentence. It also asked the district legal services authority to ensure compensation to the victim under the Arunachal Pradesh Victim’s Compensation Act, 2011.

On June 4, 2019, Lakang Tallang drove his minor relative from Seppa to her sister’s residence in Doimukh, then diverted the vehicle to an isolated area near Kheel, threatened her with a dao (machete), and raped her in a roadside jungle. The assault was repeated at another location before Tallang dropped the victim near Rono Hills and fled. The victim informed her family, and an FIR was filed the same day at Doimukh police station.