Staff Reporter

YUPIA, 17 Sep: The sessions court here in Papum Pare district has sentenced a 23-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a woman and attempting to murder her by strangulation in Itanagar last year.

Sessions Judge Dr Hirendra Kashyap sentenced Jahid Khan, a resident of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for rape under Section 64 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He was also awarded life imprisonment under Section 109 (1) for attempt to murder and causing hurt.

The two sentences will run concurrently, according to the sentencing order passed on 16 September.

The case relates to an incident in Mowgli village in Itanagar on 13 July, 2025.

According to the judgment, the woman was walking alone when Khan followed her and attacked her in an isolated area. The court found that he overpowered and strangled her before sexually assaulting her. When she began breathing again, he allegedly strangled her once more before continuing the assault.

Medical examination subsequently found injuries on her neck and other parts of her body.

The women police station in Itanagar registered a case following the woman's complaint and the same was assigned to Sub-Inspector B Yakum for investigation.

During the trial, the prosecution led by additional public prosecutor N Bakhang examined 10 witnesses, including the victim, investigating officer, and doctor. Khan denied the allegations and claimed that he had been falsely implicated.

In its 3 September judgment, the court held that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Khan committed rape and attempted to murder the victim, and convicted him under Sections 64 (1) and 109 of the BNS.

The court, however, held that the prosecution failed to prove the charge of criminal intimidation under Section 351 (2) of the BNS beyond reasonable doubt.

While deciding the quantum of punishment, the court said there were several aggravating circumstances and found no mitigating factor warranting leniency. The defence had sought the minimum punishment, citing Khan's lack of criminal antecedents.

The court also directed that the case be referred to the Papum Pare District Legal Services Authority for payment of adequate compensation to the victim under the Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011.