Matribhumi Samachar English
Kasaragod: In a significant judgment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, a special POCSO court in Hosdurg sentenced a madrasa teacher to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl inside a madrasa classroom in Kasaragod district.
The convicted person, Abdul Hameed, a native of Kidur, was found guilty of committing sexual assault on the minor while she was attending classes at the madrasa. The sentence was pronounced by Judge Suresh P M of the Hosdurg POCSO Court. The court also ruled that if the fine is not paid, the accused will have to undergo an additional imprisonment of one year and three months.
According to the prosecution, the incidents occurred over several days beginning in early November 2023, when the accused repeatedly assaulted the child during class hours. The case was registered following a complaint, and police acted promptly after the matter came to light. The victim was 12 years old at the time of the offence, making the case prosecutable under the stringent provisions of the POCSO Act.
Yet another madrasa mullah convicted under POCSO
Abdul Hameed, Kasargod sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 12 yr old girl pic.twitter.com/XtT75BAdbr
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The court awarded punishment under multiple sections of law. The accused was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, along with additional imprisonment in default of payment. He was also awarded three years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 354(A)(2) IPC. Under the POCSO Act, the court imposed five years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000, with an additional six months’ imprisonment in default of payment. Further, under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, the accused was sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000. All sentences will run concurrently.
The case was registered at Kumbala Police Station and investigated by the then Sub-Inspector Aneesh V K, who later submitted the charge sheet before the court. Hosdurg Special Public Prosecutor Gangadharan A. appeared for the prosecution and argued the case on behalf of the state.
The Kasaragod conviction adds to a series of earlier cases reported from different parts of the country involving sexual offences against minors in madrassas, raising serious concerns about child safety in such religious learning spaces. While madrassas play an important role in education, these incidents underline the urgent need for strict safeguards to protect children from abuse.
In 2021, a POCSO court in Malappuram district sentenced a madrasa teacher to a long prison term for sexually assaulting a minor student over several months. The court noted that the accused had exploited the trust placed in him by the child and her family. The judgment stressed that institutions imparting religious education are equally bound by law to ensure the safety of children.
Another case was reported from Kozhikode in 2022, where a madrasa instructor was arrested and later convicted for sexually abusing a young girl during class hours. The court observed that the offence was aggravated as it occurred within the classroom, a place meant for learning and moral guidance.
In Kannur district, police registered a POCSO case against a madrasa teacher following complaints by parents that a minor student had been subjected to repeated abuse. The case led to stricter scrutiny of madrasa management practices in the area, including calls for mandatory background checks of teaching staff.
Similar cases have also emerged from other states. In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, authorities have registered multiple POCSO cases against madrasa teachers in recent years, with courts consistently holding that religious institutions cannot claim exemption from criminal accountability.
Credit : Organiser Weekly
