Shimla: 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.”
When the woman failed to return home, her family alerted the police and began searching for her. The incident took place on September 26, 2025, when the victim, a mother of three, was returning home around 9.30pm after watching Ramleela at Bhavanagar in Kinnaur, according to the prosecution. They found her on National Highway-05 near the Palingi Nichar Road, where she narrated the ordeal.
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.
“The offence of gang rape committed by the convicts was inhumane. “Rape is a heinous crime against society and women’s dignity. What is inflicted is not mere physical injury; it leaves a scar on her mind, honour, reputation, and chastity. Besides psychological trauma, there is a social stigma that has a devastating effect. Warning against lenient sentences, the judge added: “In recent years, such offences against women are on the rise. If a just punishment is not awarded in cases like this, it would have a devastating effect on the victim and her family. The court held that the prosecution successfully proved the accused acted with common intention to abduct, gang-rape, and criminally intimidate the victim.
It affects the morale of society and must be severely dealt with,” the court said. Imposition of an inadequate sentence will be an injustice to the victim, who was dehumanized by two perverted men,” the court observed in its detailed order made available on Monday.
