Additional Sessions Judge Shazia Tabasum announced the sentenced yesterday to Mohammad Yasin Bhat, who was convicted on charges of raping the 15-year-old girl after eloping with her in December 1997.
The court sentenced the accused for five year rigorous imprisonment for rape under section 376 Ranbir panel Code (RPC) and four years rigorous imprisonment under section 366 RPC (kidnapping).
"The substantive sentences of imprisonment awarded to convict will run concurrently," the court said and directed the Additional Public Prosecutor to take the convict in custody and lodge him in Central Jail Srinagar.
The parents of the girl had lodged an FIR against Bhat in December 1997, claiming that their minor daughter has been enticed by him.
The police immediately swung into action and arrested the accused along with the girl from Jammu and during the course of investigation it was established that the accused had raped the girl.
The police filed the charge sheet against the accused on September 25, 1999.