In a recent verdict, a special fast track court in Palwal has handed down the death sentence to two men, Ajay and another individual (whose name was not disclosed), for the heinous crime of gang rape and murder of a nine-year-old deaf and mute girl. The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Rana, found the accused guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The judge, in his ruling, emphasized the exceptionally brutal and barbaric nature of the crime. He noted that the victim was repeatedly raped after her hands were tied, and the convicts even burned her eyes with beedis. Such cruelty and depravity led the court to categorize this case as falling within the "rarest of rare" category, warranting capital punishment for the accused.
The convicts, aged approximately 22 and 27 years, were neighbors of the victim. One of the convicts had lured the girl with ₹20 to buy guavas. However, they captured her on the way and took her into a dense field, where she was subjected to gang rape and ultimately killed. The child succumbed to her injuries on the spot after being strangled and smothered.
The court observed that the convicts had meticulously planned and executed their acts of rape and murder in utmost secrecy and with cold-blooded intent. The victim suffered multiple injuries, including a neck fracture and complete damage to her genitals, highlighting the extreme brutality inflicted upon her.
Considering the socio-economic background of the victim's family, who were below the poverty line, the court recognized their vulnerable status. The victim's father was a disabled laborer, her mother was also deaf and mute with a physical disability, and her younger siblings, aged 11 and 6 years, were also deaf and mute. These factors further underscored the gravity of the crime and the need for appropriate punishment.
The court firmly stated that anything less than the death penalty would be unjustified in the circumstances of this case. It expressed skepticism about the possibility of the convicts' reformation and their potential to pose a menace to society. The court further issued a stern warning to potential offenders, stressing that those who commit such offenses against children would be signing their own death warrants.
The court acknowledged the collective outrage and protests expressed by the Deaf & Dumb Welfare Association of Palwal and other concerned NGOs over this heinous crime. It affirmed that although human ears may not have heard the silent cries of the victim, the cosmic intelligence always listens and delivers complete justice in due time. The court believed that the time had come to ensure that the convicts received their "just desert" for their actions, leading to the imposition of the death sentence.
In addition to the death penalty, the court awarded a compensation of ₹30 lakh to the legal heirs of the victim. The confirmation of the death sentence will be subject to the Punjab and Haryana High Court's review.
The prosecution and the complainant were represented by Special Public Prosecutor Harkesh Kumar and advocate SC Chauhan. On the other hand, advocates Ram Rattan Malik and NS Parmar represented the convicts.
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TAGS: gang rape murder nine-year-old deaf and mute girl fast track court death sentence Palwal POCSO Act Indian Penal Code brutal barbaric rarest of rare capital punishment convicts neighbors guavas kidnapping strangulation smothered evidence maggots secrecy preplanned cold-blooded multiple injuries socio-economic background below poverty line disability reformation menace to society warning death warrant outrage protests Deaf & Dumb Welfare Association cosmic intelligence just desert compensation Punjab and Haryana High Court Special Public Prosecutor advocate.
