On Women's Day, UP court sentences rape accused to death

An Uttar Pradesh court, in Jaunpur district, about 225 kilometres from here, on Monday sentenced a man, who had raped an eleven-year-old girl before killing her and trying to burn her face with acid to death.

Additional sessions judge Ravi Yadav, who also imposed a fine of Rs. 10,00 on the accused, had reserved the judgement in the case on Saturday.

The trial was concluded within a period of seven months. The hearing of the matter was conducted on a daily basis. The incident had occurred in August last year.

According to the prosecution one Bal Govind, a resident of Chandauli district in the state, about 300 kilometres from here, had lured the minor with the promise to give her chocolate and took her to a secluded field, where she was raped.

The convict, fearing that he might be caught, strangled the child and then burnt her face with acid to conceal her identity.

The incident had triggered widespread outrage and locals had taken to the streets demanding stern action against the culprit.

The body of the minor was recovered from the fields two days later. The elder sister of the victim, who had seen the minor going with Bal Govind, and the shopkeeper from where the convict had bought chocolate, had testified against him in the court.

''Justice has been done today...we are very happy that the culprit has been sentenced to death,'' said the father of the victim.