The three main convicts in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomadic girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua have been awarded life imprisonment. Convicts Sanji Ram, Parvesh Kumar and Deepak Khajuria were booked under Sections 363 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 376D (gangrape) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Ranbir Penal Code.
Three others, including cops Surinder Verma, Anand Dutta and Tilak Raj, who were booked under RPC Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) have each been sentenced to five years in prison.
On 10 June, the special court in Pathankot had acquitted one of the seven accused, Vishal Ram, in the Kathua rape and murder case.
- The three main convicts have also been sentenced to 25 years for charges of gangrape
- The eight-year-old girl, who was kidnapped on 10 January last year, was allegedly raped in captivity in a small village temple in Kathua district
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NCW Chairperson Demands Capital Punishment for Kathua Case Convicts
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma on Monday demanded capital punishment for the six convicts in the Kathua case, saying the Jammu and Kashmir government should appeal in the higher court.
Prosecution Team May Appeal Against Sole Acquittal
The prosecution team, comprising lawyers JK Chopra, SS Basra, Harminder Singh and Bhupinder Singh, said it demanded capital punishment for the three main convicts and may go in for appeal against the sole acquittal.
"We have sought capital punishment against all three accused convicted of murder and gangrape. It was hard work of all of us and a perfect blend of investigation and legal brains. We have achieved 99 percent result," the statement said.
Life Imprisonment to 3 Main Convicts for Murder
The three main accused – Sanji Ram, Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar – have been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh each after being convicted for criminal conspiracy and murder. They have also been sentenced to 25 years for charges of gangrape.
However, there’s still no clarity whether the life imprisonment awarded to the three is until death or not, with the prosecution saying that it is, while the defence is of the view that it is not.
Kathua Rape-Murder Case: Life Imprisonment for 3 Main Convicts, 5 Yrs of Prison for 3 Others
The three main convicts in the Kathua rape and murder case have been awarded life imprisonment. Convicts Sanji Ram, Parvesh Kumar and Deepak Khajuria were booked under Sections 363 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 376D (gangrape) and 120(B) criminal conspiracy of the Ranbir Penal Code.
Three others, including cops Surender Verma, Anand Dutta and Tilak Raj, who were booked under RPC Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) have been sentenced to five years in prison and Rs 50,000 fine each. If they do not deposit the fine, they will have to serve additional six months in jail, a lawyer said.