Three brothers get 10 years jail term for raping minor cousin

Three brothers have been given 10 years' jail term each by a Delhi court for repeatedly raping their minor cousin for more than three years and spoiling her life.
Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar handed down the sentence to the three convicts, Afzal, Aashik and Aslam, agreeing with the prosecution's argument that their act was "quite grave" and they had not only spoiled the life of a child but also "shattered" the sanctity of relationships.
"I am in agreement with the contention of the additional public prosecutor that the act of convicts are quite grave as they have committed rape with a girl of less than 12 years of age and thus not only spoiled the life of a child but they have also broken the trust of the victim and shattered the sanctity of the relationships on which our society relies.

"Therefore, taking into account the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, in my view, proper sentence in this case would be all the convicts are sentenced for 10 years rigorous imprisonment under section 376 (2)(f) (raping a girl who is under twelve years of age) of the IPC with fine of Rs 5,000 each," the judge said.
According to deposition of the minor girl, her father had died prior to her birth and after her mother had remarried, she lived with her maternal grandparents.
Thereafter, her custody was taken over by the convicts' mother, the victim's paternal aunt, and she was taken to their home, the girl had told the court.

She had alleged that 2-3 days after she arrived at the three convicts' home, Afzal (21), Aashik (26) and Aslam (24) started raping her on the roof of the house by gagging her with a piece of cloth and sometimes at knife point.
They used to rape her whenever no one was around, the girl had alleged, adding when she had informed the convicts' mother about it, she had scolded her (victim).
An FIR was lodged against the trio in September 2011 after the girl had informed her maternal aunt and grandparents about what had happened to her, the police had said.