Man Sentenced To Death For 9-year-Old Girls’s Rape And Murder In West Bengal
Mumbai: Mostakin Sardar, the suspect in the brutal rape and murder of a minor in West Bengal’s Kultali area, was arrested in the early hours of October 5, just hours after the crime. The heinous act, occurring barely two months after the August 9 rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, has sparked widespread unrest and protests.
Public Anger and Police Outpost Set Ablaze
Following the incident, villagers accused the local police of inaction, attacking the Mahishmari police outpost and setting a section of it on fire. Pratima Mondal, the local Trinamool Congress MP, was prevented by locals from meeting the victim’s family.
Conviction and Sentencing
Sardar was convicted under Sections 103 and 66 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. Over a 61-day trial, the Pocso court found him guilty.
While sentencing Sardar to death, Judge Subrata Chattopadhyay noted the convict displayed no remorse or inclination to reform. The court also directed the state to provide ₹10 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family.
The Crime and Investigation
The 13-year-old victim was abducted by Sardar while walking home from a tutorial class. According to witnesses, Sardar offered her a lift on his bicycle, later diverting to a desolate area. The victim was found with 38 injuries, her skull smashed. DNA evidence and circumstantial findings confirmed Sardar’s culpability. Initially, he claimed love for the victim but later alleged he was framed.
The state government formed an eight-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Baruipur police superintendent Palash Chandra Dhali to ensure a thorough probe in response to the public outrage.
Parallel Protests and Public Reactions
Coinciding with the sentencing, junior doctors from RG Kar Medical College held a procession in Kolkata, demanding justice in the earlier case of the 31-year-old doctor. Several individuals, including a civic police volunteer, a former principal, and a Kolkata police inspector, are in judicial custody for that crime.
“The verdict in the Kultali case has given us hope,” said the father of the RG Kar victim.
While the Kultali victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the death sentence, concerns remain about the potential for appeal. “Such cases often result in the convict moving to higher courts and securing bail,” the victim’s father said.
The Kultali case has reignited calls for stricter measures and timely justice in crimes against women and children, underlining the need for systemic reforms to ensure accountability and safety.
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