Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya has upheld a 20-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for a man convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh dismissed the appeal filed by Dresster Kurbah, affirming his conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
The crime occurred on June 14, 2021, during a birthday gathering at the victim's home in the East Khasi Hills district. Kurbah, who was assisting with cooking at the event, lured the teenager to a nearby path. When the girl refused his sexual advances, Kurbah pinned her to the ground and raped her, later threatening her to keep the incident secret.
The assault came to light two months later after the girl missed her menstrual cycle. When confronted by the family, Kurbah admitted he was responsible for the pregnancy but refused to acknowledge the child because he was already in a relationship. This admission led the family to file a police report on November 2, 2021, at the Mawlai Police Station, and Kurbah was arrested that same day.
During the trial, the court relied on testimony from the victim, her mother, and a medical officer. The doctor confirmed the survivor was four to five months pregnant, aligning with the timeline of the attack. Although the defense claimed the encounter was consensual and disputed the age of the victim, the judges rejected these arguments. Following the incident, the survivor dropped out of school and gave birth to a son in August 2022.
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