A 54-year-old woman has been sentenced to two months in prison for assaulting her 7-year-old nephew, after he wet the bed at their home in a village in Ba earlier this year.
The Magistrates Court in Ba described the attack as a serious breach of trust.
The woman, referred to as L.R (name suppressed), pleaded guilty to one count of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm, admitting she hit the child with a stick and slapped him, causing his head to strike a door.
The incident occurred on 28 May 2025, when the child accidentally urinated on the bed. Enraged, the woman repeatedly hit him on the arms and legs with a stick and slapped him across the face. A medical report confirmed multiple injuries including bruises, swelling, and scratch marks.
Resident Magistrate Namrata Mishra noted the objective seriousness of the crime, highlighting its domestic setting and the young age of the victim.
“There was no provocation by the complainant. This was a spontaneous, unjustified act committed against a vulnerable child in a place where he should have felt safest,” Magistrate Mishra said.
The court took a starting point of 12 months imprisonment, adding 10 months due to aggravating factors, including the abuse of trust and the victim’s vulnerability. After deductions for her guilty plea, age, and clean record, the final sentence was set at 8 months.
However, only 2 months are to be served immediately, with the remaining 6 months suspended for 3 years.
“Courts cannot be seen condoning such actions. A clear message must be sent that if such offences are committed against children, the law will respond firmly,” Magistrate Mishra stated.
A permanent Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) was also issued against L.R, with standard non-molestation conditions. Breaching this order could result in further prosecution.
