A local court today awarded death sentence to a man for raping and killing a six-year-old girl here last month.
Special Judge Archana Singh awarded capital punishment to Jitendra Kushwaha (25), a vendor from Kampu area in Gwalior, after convicting him under section 376 (A)(B), introduced under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, as well as IPC section 302, said additional district prosecution officer Anil Mishra.
Kushwaha was also found guilty under IPC section 366 (abduction), 201 (disappearance of evidence of offence) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Mishra said.
The culprit had lured the girl from a wedding hall on the intervening night of June 20 and 21. Resident of neighbouring Bhind district, the victim was attending a marriage function in Gwalior.
The minor's body was found at around 9am on June 21 and a post-mortem confirmed that she had been raped before being murdered.
Kushwaha was arrested on June 22 and the police filed a charge sheet on July 2, within 12 days of the incident, Mishra said.
The trial lasted 13 days during which 33 witnesses, besides other evidences, were presented before the special court, Mishra said.
Kushwaha was spotted in a CCTV grab wherein he was seen luring the victim away from the hall where the function was being held.
Besides, the DNA on hair samples found in the victim's hand matched with that of Kushwaha, Mishra said.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 seeks to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Evidence Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the POCSO Act to introduce a new provision of death penalty for those convicted of rape of minors below 12 years of age.
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