Faith healer sentenced to 14-yr jail for sexually abusing minors in J&K

CASE CAME TO LIGHT AFTER CLASS 10 STUDENT ALONG WITH HIS FATHER APPROACHED BOMAI POLICE STATION IN MARCH 2016

- Ashiq Hussain

SRINAGAR: The faith healer, who was on Monday convicted of sexually abusing children who used to visit him for religious lessons, has been collectively awarded 14 years of rigorous imprisonment for both the cases.

Sopore chief judicial magistrate Mir Wajahat, after holding the charges of conviction against Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh on under Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) which he committed against two victims, announced the quantum of sentence on Tuesday.

"Thus, this court is legally empowered to impose a maximum sentence of seven years for each offence...Since the accused has been convicted for two separate offences against two different victims, the court is within its jurisdiction to impose separate sentences for each offence...," the judgment said.

The court has also imposed a fine amount of ₹ 50,000 to each victim.

"The sentences shall run consecutively meaning that the accused shall serve a total of 14 years of rigorous imprisonment," it said.