Man convicted for rape get death sentence
Kolkata: A person convicted for rape and murder of a two-and half-year-old girl has been awarded with death sentence on Thursday by the Chief Judge of City Sessions Court. During the announcement of quantum of punishment, the judge said the case was 'rarest of the rare'.
On July 21, 2013, a two-and-a half-year-old girl, who was a footpath dweller, went missing from under the Kidderpore ramp of Vidyasagar Setu. The grandmother of the child lodged a missing complaint on the same night at the Hastings police station. On July 22 morning, her body was found from a drain near Victoria Memorial.
During investigation police came up with the name of a horse keeper identified as Suresh Paswan, who worked at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club. Within a few days of investigation, police officers were sure that Paswan was the culprit. But, as he fled the city immediately after the crime was committed, police could not find him. But, shortly police nabbed him from his village at Vaishali district in Bihar.
After the arrest was made, the homicide section completed the investigation and filed charge sheet. Though the convicted confessed to the crime, 32 witnesses were produced before the court during the trail. After five-and-a-half-years Paswan was pronounced guilty under IPC Sections 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), 376A (rape), 302 (murder) and Section 6 of the POCSO Act (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault). Though Paswan pleaded for less punishment, concerned judge narrated the incident as the 'rarest of the rare' and awarded him with death sentence.
In another case of rape of a 15-year-old girl, the prime accused has been pronounced guilty and has been awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 15,000. On December 13, last year, the convicted person identified as Abhijit Paik abducted the girl and raped her. Later, he confined her at a house in South 24-Parganas. Abhijit was arrested from a place in Narkeldanga. Later, the girl was rescued from South 24-Parganas.
