India, May 14 -- A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has convicted a 42-year-old man for aggravated sexual assault on a four-year-old girl and sentenced him to five years' rigorous imprisonment. However, the court acquitted him of rape and penetrative sexual assault charges, citing lack of medical evidence of penetration.

A fine of Rs.10,000 has been imposed, of which Rs.8,000 will be paid to the victim as compensation.

The incident took place in July 2023 when the child was alone at home with her younger sibling, when the accused, a neighbour known to the family as "Mama", allegedly assaulted her. The child later told her mother that he had inserted his finger into her "place of urination,"...