Property of rapist sold for relief to victim

In a rare case, the property of a Punjab gangster convicted for rape was sold for Rs 91 lakh by the government on Tuesday to be paid as compensation to the minor rape victim and her family.

The convict, Nishan Singh, is serving a life sentence for abduction and rape of a minor girl in 2012. The earlier auction held a few weeks ago to sell the property of the convict remained a flop show as none came forward to buy the property out of ‘fear’ or apprehending complications later.

On Tuesday, as no bidders came forward, the district red cross society in Faridkot in Punjab, purchased 4 acres of agriculture land that was registered in the name of the gangster and his mother. While the rape victim will get Rs 50 lakh as compensation, a sum of Rs 20 lakh each will be handed over to the parents of the minor victim.

The process to sell the property of the rapist followed directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh about two months ago. The court had directed the convict and his mother, also a convict, to provide a Rs 90 lakh compensation to the victim and her family. Acting on the orders of the court, the administration had attached the agricultural and residential properties of Nishan Singh and his mother Navjot Kaur, who was awarded a seven-year jail term.

On September 24, 2012, a girl student of class 10 student was abducted from her house in Faridkot at gunpoint by Nishan and his accomplices. The minor was later rescued from Goa nearly a month later. After the rape, the minor became pregnant. With the consent of the court, the foetus was later aborted.