Kolkata Court Imposes Death Sentence for Rape of Infant
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Synopsis
A Kolkata court has sentenced a man to death for the rape of a seven-month-old girl, deeming the crime one of the rarest due to its severity. The ruling, delivered by a POCSO court, also includes a mandate for compensation to the victim's family.
Key Takeaways
- Rajiv Ghosh sentenced to death.
- Punished under multiple sections of the POCSO Act.
- Victim was just seven months old.
- Compensation of Rs 10 lakh ordered.
- Quick investigation led to arrest within days.
Kolkata, Feb 18 (NationPress) A man received the death penalty from a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court in Kolkata on Tuesday for the brutal rape of a seven-month-old girl that occurred in November of the previous year.
The perpetrator, Rajiv Ghosh, aged 34, was found guilty by the POCSO court on Monday. He faced charges under Section 137 (2) (punishment for kidnapping), Section 65 (2) (punishment for rape as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act, 2012.
During proceedings, the presiding judge of the special court, Oindrila Mukhopadhyay, noted that while the crime did not lead to the victim's death, it must be classified as one of the rarest of the rare offenses due to the heinous nature of the act against such a young child.
Along with the death sentence, the special court mandated that the West Bengal government provide Rs 10 lakh in compensation to the victim's family.
This conviction and sentencing occurred within three months following the crime, which transpired on November 30, 2024. The police initiated an investigation and submitted the charge sheet just 26 days post-incident.
The victim had gone missing from a roadside shanty in the Burtolla region of north Kolkata. Her parents promptly notified the authorities, and she was soon located on a nearby footpath.
A medical examination confirmed the act of rape. Using CCTV footage, the police identified Ghosh, arresting him in Gopiballavpur, located in the Jhargram district on December 4 of the past year. The investigation revealed that he had stealthily abducted the sleeping child from the shanty that night and subsequently assaulted her.
In reaction to the special court's ruling, Dipak Sarkar, deputy commissioner of the north division of Kolkata Police who led the investigation, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that justice has been served for both the victim and her family.
