One gets death for rape, murder of 3-year-old

Keonjhar, December 19

A court in Odisha’s Keonjhar district today sentenced a man to death for rape and murder of a three-year-old girl.

Additional District Court-cum-Special Court Judge Lokanath Sahu pronounced capital punishment to 20-year-old Sunil Kumar Naik after convicting him for rape and murder of the minor girl on January 13, 2017.

The medical examination report stated that the girl died due to shock and haemorrhage by forceful penetration, said public prosecutor.

Police said Nayak of Sasang village under the Champua police station area was a relative of the girl and, therefore, visited the victim’s house frequently.

On January 13, 2017, he took the girl to a secluded place and raped her. Later, he killed her by throttling in order to conceal the crime. After his conviction, Naik claimed he was innocent and said he would move higher court to review the judgment.

This was the fifth incident of death penalty being awarded by a court in Odisha in the last six months for rape of minor girl. — PTI