India, Sept. 28 -- A fast-track court in Kinnaur has sentenced two men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the gangrape of a 32-year-old woman, observing that sexual assault "degrades the soul of the victim."

Passing the verdict on September 26, Rampur additional sessions judge Neha Dahiya held that any lenient punishment would be an injustice to the survivor, who was "dehumanized by two perverted men" during the attack exactly a year ago.

Dahiya also imposed a fine of Rs.9,000 each on the convicts-Tabrez Alam, alias Biraj (26), a resident of Bihar, and Lakhinder, alias Lucky (24), a local from Grange in Kinnaur district.

"The offence of gang rape committed by the convicts was inhumane. Imposition of an inadequate sentence will be...