Man jailed for repeatedly stalking 10-year-old girl

New Delhi: A Delhi court has awarded nearly 20-month jail term to a 30-year-old man for repeatedly stalking a 10-year-old girl.

The court, which awarded the jail term to the accused Suraj holding him guilty of repeatedly stalking the minor girl, also said it was a common occurrence that people tend to watch ‘tamasha’ (drama) at a crime scene and do not help the police in its investigation.

While holding him guilty of stalking the Class 5 student whenever she used to get out of her home to go to school or market in an East Delhi locality, the court relied on the victim’s testimony as her neighbours or the passers-by had kept themselves away from the probe.

The man, who was in custody since July 24, 2015, was sentenced to imprisonment for a period he has already spent in jail during the trial as the maximum punishment prescribed under law for his offence was three years.

The girl had complained of four acts of stalking by the man on different dates when he tried to lure her by showing currency notes and trying to induce her by giving some snacks. The man was granted bail in March this year.

“It is a judicially noticeable fact that public persons try to avoid police proceedings and generally do not participate in criminal cases by going to the police station and courts.

“They are ready to see ‘tamasha’ (drama) at the spot but do not cooperate with the police