POCSO Act: ‘Uncle’ sentenced to death in child rape and murder case in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: In a landmark decision, a court in Narmadapuram district has Death sentence to the suspect in the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl.
The verdict, delivered by Second Additional Judicial Judge (ADJ) Suresh Kumar Choubey on Wednesday, is the first death sentence passed by the Sohagpur court in over a century. The accused, identified as the girl's maternal uncle, was sentenced to death under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and provisions relating to murder.
The conviction was based on compelling evidence, including DNA analysis and the testimony of the victim's younger brother. The prosecution team, comprising Deputy District Attorney Babulal Kakodia and Additional Public Prosecutor Shankarlal Malviya, presented compelling arguments that led to this landmark decision.
The incident took place on December 25, 2021, when the 5-year-old girl disappeared from her home in a village in Sohagpur at around 3 pm. Despite an extensive search by her family and local residents, she was found only in the evening when a missing person report was filed at the Shohagpur police station.
Police investigation led to the discovery of the girl's body on the roof of her house, covered with a cloth. According to SP Dr Gurkaran Singh, the body bore marks of strangulation and physical abuse. Suspicion quickly fell on close relatives and after a detailed questioning, the accused Kishan was arrested. He was 19 years old at the time of the incident. “We had filed the chargesheet in this case within 30 days and provided strong forensic evidence,” SP Dr Gurkaran Singh told TOI.
The case had sparked outrage among the local population. On December 26, 2021, villagers protested in front of the Shohapur police station and demanded the death penalty for the accused.
This verdict is the second death sentence in a rape and murder case in Narmadapuram district in the last 18 months. The first verdict was passed by the Itarsi court in a case involving a 7-year-old girl who was raped and murdered by her uncle in Sukhtwa, Kesla. The Itarsi court delivered its verdict within 90 days of the crime.