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MADURAI: A Pocso court in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a man to death for sexually assaulting and impregnating his minor daughter.The 49-year-old labourer, an alcoholic, repeatedly sexually assaulted his 14-year-old daughter since Aug 2024. He also threatened the survivor with dire consequences if she revealed the crime to her mother. When she fell ill, her mother took her to primary health centre where doctors found she was pregnant. Upon discovering that her husband had sexually assaulted their daughter, the woman lodged a complaint with an all-women police station in Feb 2025. Police registered a case for offences under the Pocso Act and arrested the accused.Special court judge K Suresh Kumar observed that the harm caused, deliberate misuse of authority, threats, and long-term impact on the survivor demonstrated the extreme seriousness of the offence. Acts committed by those in positions of trust, especially within families, require a strong response to maintain public confidence and protect other children, the judge said.
