Meghalaya POCSO court sentenced life term for two men for raping minor girl

A special court in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the sexual assault of a minor girl in 2017.

On June 25, Special Judge (POCSO) Nongstoiñ convicted Mebanlang Warjri and Tony Paul Basaiawmoit, handing down life sentences and fines of ₹50,000 each. The court’s order was made public on Wednesday.

The case began in May 2017, when a complaint was filed at Mairang Police Station reporting the sexual assault of a minor. The investigation was led by D.P. Nongbri of the Nongstoiñ Women Police Station. Both accused were arrested soon after the complaint was lodged.

POCSO Act's various provisions led the court to find them guilty as "a grave violation of the child's bodily integrity and dignity."

This conviction comes amid a growing backlog of over 1,700 pending POCSO cases in Meghalaya. With only six special POCSO courts operating across the state, delays in trials remain a major challenge. Officials say many cases stall due to victims or witnesses not showing up, lengthy investigations, or procedural issues.

A senior police official said, “This verdict sends a clear message that crimes against children will not be tolerated. But systemic issues must be addressed to ensure justice is delivered quickly.”