Bhopal ex-newspaper owner gets 10 life terms for sexually assaulting minors

A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has sentenced former newspaper owner Pyare Miyan to 10 separate life terms for raping and sexually assaulting five minor girls, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The court also imposed a fine of Rs 77.64 lakh on the 78-year-old and sentenced his accomplice, Rabia Bi, to 20 years in prison, a prosecution official told PTI.The sentences awarded under various sections of the POCSO Act and the Indian Penal Code include eight prison terms for the remainder of Miyan's natural life and two life terms. All the sentences will run concurrently.According to the prosecution, Miyan had been targeting girls since 2014. He would lure them by offering them jobs at his home for a monthly salary of Rs 10,000 and then sexually assault and rape them. Rabia Bi facilitated his crimes, the official said. The case came to light on July 11, 2020, when one of the victims disclosed during a counselling session that she had been invited to a flat in Bhopal's Shahpura area on the pretext of celebrating a girl's birthday.She was forced to consume alcohol and was sexually assaulted by Miyan at the flat, the official told PTI, citing the case details. Several other minor girls later described the same pattern of exploitation. Public Prosecutor PN Singh Rajput said the court handed Miyan 10 life terms after the prosecution proved the charges against him. Police investigated the case and arrested Miyan, who was later put on trial along with Rabia Bi and other accomplices, he added.The ruling has resulted in 10 concurrent life sentences and a fine of Rs 77.64 lakh for Miyan, while Rabia Bi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.- Ends