Bhopal, Aug 21: A minor in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district was convicted within a record period, on charges of raping a 4-year-old girl. The convict, a 14-year-old youth of Ghatiya village in Ujjain, had sexually assaulted the victim on August 15.

Within seven days, the police swung into action. Not only the convict was nabbed hours after the rape, but a tight case was prepared by the prosecution to ensure maximum punishment.

Since the convict is a juvenile, the law sanctions a maximum imprisonment of two years. A local court in Ujjain, which heard the case, sentenced him to two years in a remand home based in Seoni district.

Government advocate Deependra Malu said the judge agreed to order imprisonment, saying the convict needed to be psychologically reformed for his crime.

Notably, the same crime would had attracted a maximum punishment of death if the convict had been a major.

Prosecution completed within 7 days, trial lasted for 7 hours

After the victim's parents lodged a complaint with the Ghatiya police station on August 15, an FIR was lodged. Following a day-long probe, a charge sheet was prepared, booking the convict under relevant sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Government advocate Deependra Malu said the trial lasted for merely 7 hours as the case diary was submitted before the court at 10:45 pm on Monday. By 6 pm, the verdict was pronounced by the bench.

Ujjain Superintendent of Police Sachin Atulkar, who led the team which filed the chargesheet in the rape case, said the timely conviction will not only send out a positive message, but prove to be a deterrent.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2018 06:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).