Vadodara: A special POCSO court in Savli has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to a witch doctor for raping a 16-year-old girl. During the sentencing, the court highlighted that such individuals often deceive people and exploit their trust.
According to the complaint, the 39-year-old accused lured the victim with a false promise of marriage and fled with her in April 2024. The girl’s family became aware of the situation when she suddenly went missing. Despite efforts to locate her, they later discovered that the witch doctor had convinced her to run away with him.
The complaint further revealed that the accused took the girl to multiple locations and sexually assaulted her. In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on the convict.
The court noted that individuals like the accused often manipulate villagers by creating an atmosphere of fear, using religion to control their actions. It also observed that such witch doctors frequently flaunt their wealth by wearing branded Western attire and traveling in luxury vehicles.
Emphasizing the gravity of such crimes, the court stated that these incidents have a profound impact on society and cannot be taken lightly.
