Cuttack: In a significant judgment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, a Fast Track Special Court in Cuttack district has convicted an Urdu teacher and sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor girl.
The Ad Hoc Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track Special Court-I), Cuttack, convicted Hafiz Nur Artaj, an Urdu teacher at a Madrasa in Buxi Bazar, Cuttack, under Section 6 of the POCSO Act. Besides the prison term, the court imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. In default of payment, the convict will have to undergo an additional one year of rigorous imprisonment. The court also directed that Rs 4 lakh be paid to the survivor as compensation.
According to the Cuttack Commissionerate Police, the conviction marks a significant step in ensuring justice for child victims of sexual offences.
The case was registered at Cantonment Police Station on August 23, 2025, based on a complaint lodged by the parent of a 12-year-old girl.
Police investigation revealed that the accused sexually assaulted the child while teaching her Urdu between August and December 2024.
Following completion of the investigation, the Investigating Officer, Sub-Inspector Motilal Marandi, filed the charge sheet on October 21, 2025, under Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
The prosecution was led by Special Public Prosecutor S.N. Das. Based on the evidence presented during the trial, the Fast Track Special Court convicted the accused and pronounced the sentence on June 23, 2026, police said.
