GORAKHPUR, April 2 -- A special POCSO court in Gorakhpur has sentenced a 22-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a six-year-old girl. The court also fined him Rs.55,000, officials said on Wednesday. The convict, Ashok Nishad, was found guilty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Indian Penal Code. The court also sentenced his mother to four years of rigorous imprisonment for trying to hide evidence during the investigation. The judgment was delivered by special judge Ashok Yadav. The court relied on strong medical, forensic and witness evidence while delivering the verdict. The incident took place in February 2026. The victim, a resident of Siddharth Nagar, had come with her grandmother to attend a wedding in a village under Pipraich police station area. She went missing on the night of February 21-22 and was found unconscious the next morning. Her family later filed a police complaint. Based on CCTV footage and other evidence, police registered a case and filed a chargesheet. Circle officer Anurag Singh said the chargesheet was submitted on March 7, 2026. The court held daily hearings and delivered the verdict within 24 days, including 18 working days. Additional district government counsel Raghvendra Tirupathi said the court awarded life imprisonment considering the seriousness of the crime. Station house officer Arun Kumar Singh said the accused's mother tried to conceal key evidence during the probe, after which she was also made an accused. Police said the case was handled on priority with timely presentation of evidence, which helped in quick disposal. The court also directed that the fine amount be given to the victim as compensation and stressed strict action in crimes against children.htc...