Bulandshahr Court Hands Life Sentence to Couple for Heinous Crime Against Minor
In a landmark verdict, a special SC/ST Act court in Bulandshahr has convicted a rape accused and his live-in partner to life imprisonment for the brutal burning of a 15-year-old girl. The horrific incident occurred in the Jahangirabad area in 2020, following a gang-rape case that remains pending in court.
Court's Stern Verdict and Financial Penalties
Additional District and Sessions Judge Dhirendra Kumar delivered the judgment, imposing a fine of ₹50,000 each on the convicts. The court strongly condemned the act, stating, "Such offences have no place in society. Stern punishment is the only provision for such brutality." Special Public Prosecutor Vipul Raghav highlighted that while this case has been resolved, the related gang-rape trial is still ongoing.
Details of the Gruesome Attack
According to prosecution accounts, the minor was gang-raped in a sugarcane field on August 14, 2020, by two men, including the male convict. After the survivor's family filed a police complaint, an FIR was registered under IPC Section 376 (rape), the POCSO Act, and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. The accused and his family then threatened the girl's family with death if the gang-rape case was not withdrawn.
On November 17, 2020, the couple entered the girl's house while she was alone, poured petrol on her, and set her ablaze. She later succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. A separate FIR was filed against the couple under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 452 (house trespass), 302 (murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 3(2)5 of the SC/ST Act.
Evidence and Conviction
The court, after meticulously examining witness statements and evidence, found the 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman guilty of this heinous crime. This verdict underscores the judiciary's commitment to delivering justice in cases of extreme violence, particularly those involving marginalized communities under the SC/ST Act.
The case has drawn significant attention due to its brutal nature and the ongoing legal proceedings related to the initial gang-rape. Authorities continue to pursue justice in the pending case, emphasizing the need for stringent measures against such atrocities.
