Death sentence for rape and murder of 10-year-old girl in Jaynagar, 61 days After crime

Mustakin Sardar has been sentenced to death by the Baruipur POCSO court for the rape and murder of a 10-year-old minor in Jaynagar, South 24 Parganas. The verdict was delivered on December 5, just 61 days after the crime occurred. Sardar was convicted under three major charges: rape and murder of a minor under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, and rape and murder of a minor under Section 66 of the POCSO Act. In addition, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment for kidnapping and seven years for destruction of evidence.

The crime took place on the night of October 4, when the victim, a fourth-grade student, was reported missing. After an overnight search, her body was discovered on the same night, leading to immediate suspicions of foul play. An autopsy later confirmed that the girl had been raped and murdered. Following the discovery, Mustakin Sardar was arrested by the police. The police then set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the case.

The SIT filed the charge sheet on October 30, 23 days after the formation of the team. On November 5, the process of recording witness testimony began in the case. A total of 36 witnesses testified during the trial. On December 5, the court found Sardar guilty of all charges and handed down the death sentence, along with other penalties. The court also ordered that the victim's family receive Rs 10 lakh in compensation.

The case was considered one of the "rarest of rare" crimes, with the prosecution arguing that the severity of the crime warranted the death penalty. Along with the death sentence, the court imposed life imprisonment for kidnapping and seven years for tampering with evidence, reflecting the seriousness of the offenses committed by the accused.

The legal process was notably swift, with the entire investigation, trial, and sentencing taking place over a period of just 61 days. The investigation was led by the police with the support of the SIT, and the charge sheet was filed within a month. The trial proceeded rapidly, and the sentence was delivered in early December. The case has been widely followed due to its nature and the quick response by the legal system.