Six convicted in Kamduni gangrape and murder case

The gangrape and brutal murder of a 21-year-old Kolkata college girl that occurred when she was returning home at Kamduni, about 50km from Kolkata, in North 24-Parganas district after appearing for an examination at her college on June 7, 2013 had led to a nationwide outrage.

Six persons were on Thursday convicted by a Kolkata court in the Kamduni gangrape and murder case. Two other accused in the case were acquitted.

Additional City and Sessions Judge Sanchita Kar pronounced Saiful Ali, Ansar Ali and Aminul Ali guilty of gangrape and murder in her order in a packed court room. The three were found guilty under sections 376(d) (gangrape), 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.

The judge found Imanul Islam, Aminul Islam and Bhola Naskar guilty under sections 376 (d) (gangrape), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of IPC.

Saiful Ali, who had accosted the girl on the road and forced her inside a farmhouse where the crime was committed, was additionally found guilty under sections 109 (abetment to an offence) and 342 (wrongfully confining any person). 

The judge said that the argument on the quantum of punishment would commence tomorrow.

While Saiful Ali, Ansar Ali and Aminul Ali may be given a minimum sentence of 20 years or a maximum punishment of death penalty, the other three found guilty may face a minimum of 20 years in prison or a maximum of life sentence, the judge said.

Rafiqul Islam and Nur Ali were acquitted owing to lack of evidence against them. Another accused Gopal Naskar had died during trial in August last year.

The second year BA student was pulled into a farm when she was walking back home along a deserted road after alighting from a bus. She was gangraped and gruesomely murdered subsequently.

Her mutilated body was discovered the next morning in a corner of the farm. Ansar Ali, one of the six convicted in the case, was today seen threatening the victim’s brother outside the court room.

Ali, who was pronounced guilty of gangrape and murder of a 21-year old college girl, said, “Tokey dekhe nebo” (I will see you) to the brother of the victim while he was being taken out of the court room after the verdict. A couple of women, reported to be relatives of Ali, were also seen threatening the youth as he stood outside the court room. Ali was whisked away by the police to the court lock up.

Members of several human rights groups were also seen shouting slogans in front of the court premises seeking harshest punishment for the accused since morning. Some even tried to enter the court building but were prevented by security personnel.

A large number of curious onlookers were also present in City Sessions Court premises at B B Bagh area in the heart of the metropolis where a heavy security bandobast was in place.