Double Life Imprisonment for Farmer in 6-year-old Girl's Rape and Murder Case

Strategic Insights -

A special POCSO court in Pilibhit has sentenced a 30-year-old farmer to double life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl. The accused, 25 at the time of the incident, lured the girl away from a temple during a religious ceremony by offering her peanuts. The next morning, her body was recovered from a nearby sugarcane field, with an autopsy confirming sexual assault and death by strangulation. The accused was arrested on the same day and remained in jail throughout the trial, with courts refusing him bail due to the gravity of the crime. The court found the accused guilty after examining the evidence and arguments, and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh, as well as seven years' imprisonment for kidnapping with a fine of Rs 25,000. All sentences will run concurrently, adjusted for time already spent in custody.

Key Takeaways:

  • The accused lured the six-year-old girl away from a temple by offering her peanuts, and then strangled her to silence her after the assault.
  • The accused was arrested on the same day as the incident and remained in jail throughout the trial due to the gravity of the crime.
  • The court found the accused guilty after examining the evidence and arguments from 11 witnesses, including a farmer who testified to seeing the accused lure the child with peanuts.
  • The court sentenced the accused to double life imprisonment, a fine of Rs 1 lakh, and seven years' imprisonment for kidnapping with a fine of Rs 25,000.
  • The sentences will run concurrently, adjusted for time already spent in custody.
  • The court directed that the penalty amount be handed over to the child's family as compensation, and asked the district legal services authority to provide further relief under section 357A of the CrPC and the POCSO Rules, 2020.
  • The girl's family comes from a farming background and was affected by the crime.

Statistics:

  • The accused was 25 years old at the time of the incident.
  • The girl was six years old when she was murdered.
  • The accused was sentenced to a total of 14 years and 7 months in prison.
  • The accused was fined Rs 1 lakh and Rs 25,000.
  • 11 witnesses deposed before the court during the proceedings.
  • The court took into consideration sections 363, 376 AB, 302, and 357A of the IPC, as well as the POCSO Act and the POCSO Rules, 2020.
  • The girl's body was recovered from a nearby sugarcane field.

Sources:

  • "Pilibhit: 30-year-old farmer gets double life imprisonment for raping, murdering 6-year-old" by Times of India (Source: Times of India)