Six convicted in law school gang-rape case

A fast-track court on Wednesday convicted six of the eight accused in the gang-rape of a 21-year-old student of National Law School of India (NLSIU) University in October last year.

Maddura (20), Doddaerayya (19), Shivanna (20), Erayya (20), Yaliyaiah (23) and Rama (23) were held guilty by Justice Sangannanavar. The sentence will be pronounced on September 6.

They have been convicted under Section 376 (2)(g) of the IPC for gang-rape, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, Sections 323 and 324 (causing hurt), Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 366 (abduction). A senior officer who handled the investigation told Deccan Herald that the prosecution produced testimonies of 31 witnesses, including the victim and her male friend, who was with her when the crime was committed. Besides, 79 documents and 72 material objects were presented as evidence.

The seventh accused, who was a minor then, is being tried at a juvenile court. Sources said his trial was also nearing an end and it might take another month for the judgment to be delivered. The eighth accused, Raja, is still at large. He has been listed as an absconder in the charge sheet.

The 21-year-old woman from Nepal was sexually assaulted on the Jnanabharathi campus on October 13, 2012. She was taking a stroll with a male friend when a group of eight men assaulted them. Her friend was beaten up and the woman was gang-raped. Later, the assailants dropped her near the hostel and fled.

The victim discontinued her studies and returned home. She returned to the City a couple of months ago and deposed before the court.