A court in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district has delivered a death sentence to a man convicted of the horrific rape and brutal assault of a five-year-old girl. The incident, which sent shockwaves through the local community in Kalinjar town, saw the trial reach its conclusion in a remarkably swift timeframe.
The Gruesome Crime and Swift Arrest
The case dates back to July 25, when the convict, identified as Amit Kumar Raikwar, lured the minor victim from her neighbourhood. He called the girl, who was playing outside her home, under the false pretext of sending her to fetch paan masala from a shop. Instead, he took her to his house and committed the rape.
During the savage act, the accused inflicted severe injuries on the child. He brutally broke her left hand and cut off her tongue, later discarding it in a drain. When the girl's family members, searching for her, reached Raikwar's residence, he fled the scene by jumping over a wall.
The victim's father filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Kalinjar police station on July 26. Following a probe by Investigating Officer Deependra Singh, a chargesheet was filed in court on November 12.
Expedited Trial and Courtroom Arguments
The trial proceedings under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act moved forward rapidly after the chargesheet was submitted. The entire hearing process was wrapped up in just 56 days.
On Tuesday, Special Judge POCSO Act Pradeep Kumar Mishra pronounced the verdict. The court had heard arguments from the prosecution, represented by District Government Counsel Vijay Bahadur Singh Parihar and District Government Advocate POCSO Kamal Singh Gautam. They vehemently argued that the heinous crime had shaken the conscience of society and that the convict deserved no mercy.
Death Sentence and Final Verdict
After considering arguments from both sides, the court found Amit Kumar Raikwar guilty of the charges. Special Judge Mishra awarded him the death penalty, completing the trial in approximately 160 days from the date of the incident.
In addition to the capital punishment, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the convict along with punishment under other relevant sections of the law. Throughout the legal process, the young victim remained under medical care, receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kanpur.
This verdict underscores the judiciary's commitment to fast-tracking cases involving severe sexual violence against children and delivering stringent punishment in a time-bound manner.
