JUDGMENT :

KALYAN RAI SURANA, J.

1. Heard Mr. G. Tarak, learned amicus curiae, appearing for the appellant. Also heard Mr. G. Tado, learned Addl. Public Prosecutor, appearing for the State. As per office note dtd. 2/3/2022, notice has been served on the informant/ complainant, through the Court process, served through the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Changlang, but none appears on call.

2. The appellant, namely, Shan Kumar Chakma @ Rango Suli Chakma, who is currently lodged in District Jail, Tezu has preferred this appeal against the judgment dtd. 25/9/2019 and consequent order of sentence dtd. 17/10/2019, passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Tirap, Khonsa in connection with KSA Sessions Case No. 22/2019, arising from Diyun P.S. Case No. 22/2012, by which the appellant was convicted for commission of offence punishable under Sec. 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC for short) and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 14 (fourteen) years and to pay a fine of Rs.25,000.00, with default clause of undergoing a further sentence of 6 (six) months.

3. The prosecution case was set rolling by the father of the minor victim that while his minor daughter, then aged 11 years, was go