Former Meghalaya MLA and HNLC leader – Julius Dorphang – has been sentenced to a 25-year jail term by a POCSO court.
The former HNLC leader has been convicted of raping a minor girl back in2017.
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The sentence was pronounced by Special POCSO Judge – FS Sangma on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, counsel for Julius Dorphang has informed that the HNLC leader will challenge the verdict of the POCSO court in the Meghalaya High Court.
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Julius Dorphang was the founder and Chairman of HNLC before he surrendered in 2007.
Dorphang later contested the Meghalaya Assembly elections and won from Mawahati constituency in Ri-Bhoi district in 2013.
Julias Dorphang was picked up from an undisclosed location on August 13 after he was convicted in a POCSO case in Ri Bhoi district.
He was accused of raping a 14-year-old in 2017 when he was still an MLA.
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On December 23, 2016, the chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Meghalaya had registered a complaint to the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills District at Shillong, alleging that Julias K. Dorphang had illicit sexual intercourse with a minor girl which is a violation of the child’s right to life and dignity.
The complaint was received as an FIR and Laitumkhrah P.S. Case No 239 (12) of 2016 under Section 366 (A) IPC read with Section 3(a)/4/5 of the POCSO Act and Section 5 of the ITP Act was registered.
Again, on January 5, 2017, another FIR was filed by the chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Meghalaya, alleging that the petitioner herein had committed a similar offence against the same minor victim somewhere within the jurisdiction of Nongpoh in Ri Bhoi district.
Another criminal case was registered at Umiam Police Station – Case No 1(01) 2017 under Section 376 (2) (i) (n) IPC read with Section 4/6/17 POCSO Act, and Section 5 (I) Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
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On registration of both the cases, Julias K. Dorphang had gone underground, and was arrested on January 7, 2017 from Hatigaon in Guwahati.
Dorphang was granted bail on medical grounds on November 26 last year by the Meghalaya High Court.