JAIPUR: A Pocso court in Jhunjhunu awarded capital punishment to 21-year-old Sunil Kumar for kidnapping and raping a five-year-old girl on February 19, a mere 26 days after the crime. The accused was convicted on Tuesday and the Pocso special judge pronounced the sentence on Wednesday. He has also been given 10 years imprisonment and asked to pay three penalties of Rs 25,000 each.
Delivering the 60-page order, special judge Sukesh Kumar Jain said, “I have not seen the accused show any regret for the heinous rape.” The court awarded the capital punishment under various sections, including 376(AB) and 376(2), of the Pocso Act and 10 years imprisonment under Section 366(A) for kidnapping.
When TOI spoke to the rape survivor’s father, he said, “She has been made to suffer for life, but we are still satisfied with the court’s verdict.”
“We hope capital punishment will be given to him soon,” rape survivor’s father added.
According to police, the girl was playing along with her siblings in a village near Pilani town of Jhunjhunu district when the accused approached them and asked for a screwdriver to repair his scooter. As soon as the elder 15-year-old boy went inside the house to fetch it, the accused kidnapped the five-year-old and took her 40km away and raped her. The girl was kidnapped at 5.30pm on February 19. Police arrested him later and found the child.
“We had constituted a team comprising women police officers and filed the charge-sheet on March 1, 10 days after the arrest of the accused,” said superintendent of police Manish Tripathi, Jhunjhunu.
Police presented more than 40 witnesses and 250 documentary evidence in the case. This is the second such case in Jhunjhunu in which capital punishment has been awarded for the rape of minor girl. Three years ago, death penalty was given in a similar case in the district.
Congratulating the police team, inspector general of police Hawa Singh Ghumeria, Jaipur range, said, “The speedy judgment and thorough investigation in the case will send out a loud and clear message to those indulging in such crime. This was a very sensitive case and was dealt with utmost sincerity by the investigating officer and other concerned officers of the Jhunjhunu police.”
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)