According to the mother of the victim, Manikanta would talk to the minor in an improper manner, pull her hair, and tease her by pulling her hands and legs.

Hyderabad: A 27-year-old resident of Musheerabad has been sentenced to five years of simple imprisonment and was awarded a fine of Rs 9,000 after being convicted in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case.

A complaint had been lodged against V Manikanta, a private employee, in June 2023, for misbehaving with and stalking an 11-year-old girl who lived in his neighbourhood.

According to the mother of the victim, Manikanta would talk improperly to the minor, pull her hair, and tease her by pulling her hands and legs.

He also used to come close to her and make inappropriate comments about her clothes, asking why she was wearing shorts and saying that she should remove her clothes and roam around without them, the mother alleged.

A case was registered under sections 354 (assault or the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment committed by a man against a woman), 354D (stalking), 509 (words, gestures, sounds, or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) IPC and other sections of the POCSO Act.

Musheerabad Police forwarded the complaint to a Bharosa centre, which provided counselling to the victim and her family.