Life term for girl’s kidnapper

Our Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 18

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Virinder Aggarwal has convicted Rakesh Kumar (19) of Avtar Singh Da Vehra, Bajigar Basti, Meharban, on the charges of kidnapping and killing five-year-old Khushbo.

He was ordered to undergo rigorous life imprisonment. A fine of Rs 50,000 was also imposed on him. Out of the amount, Rs 40,000 would be paid to the victim’s family, if fine was recovered from the accused.

A case against him was registered on March 20, 2014, at the Meharban police station on a complaint of Shiv Ram, the victim’s father.

The complainant had stated to the police that a day before, his five-year-old daughter, Khushbo, was playing on the street. When she did not return home, they started searching for her, but in vain.

On March 20, the child’s father received a call from the kidnapper, who demanded ransom for the release of his daughter. The caller had demanded Rs 2 lakh. He had also threatened the family that he would kill the child if they failed deliver the ransom amount.

The police arrested Rakesh, who disclosed that Khushbo was continuously crying, so he killed her. The police recovered the body in the presence of Naib Tehsildar Sadhu Singh.

However, during trial, Rakesh pleaded innocence. But, after appreciating the evidence on record and submissions of Additional Public Prosecutor SS Hayder, the court found him guilty.