A sessions court on August 21 awarded death sentences to two men- 20 year old Irfan alias Bhaiyyu Mewati and 24 year old Asif Zulfikar Mewati arrested in connection with the Mandsaur gang rape case. The sentences came two months after the incident took place.
“It’s a rarest of rare case because the accused committed an abhorrent crime by not just raping a minor but also injuring her private parts with a knife and leaving her for dead. They don’t deserve any leniency,” (sic) observed Additional District and Sessions Judge Nisha Gupta as she awarded capital punishment under the newly introduced IPC Section 376 DB (punishment for rape of a girl under 12 years of age by one or more persons).
Since February 28, the death sentence is the 14th awarded by different courts across the state.
On June 26, the seven-year-old girl, a student of Class III was abducted from near her school gate, while she waited for her grandmother. The next day she was found brutalised and was then taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed that she had been assaulted. Several protests took place across the country following the incident.
The police first nabbed Irfan on June 27 on the basis of a CCTV footage that was acquired. Asif was arrested the next day. Both were residents of Madarpura area in Mandsaur.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “I thank the judiciary. There is a positive change in society because criminals with perverted mentality are being awarded death penalty and there is quick justice… Atma ko thandak mili, mann ko shanti mili (It has given us solace, peace of mind), justice has been done. Such punishment is a lesson for rapists.”
After the judgment on Tuesday, a Hindu Mahasabha activist slapped one of them while they were being taken away by the police.
The 350-page chargesheet was filed on July 12 and deposition of witnesses began on July 30. Additional District Prosecution Officer Nitesh Krishnan said though the prosecution had submitted a list of 47 witnesses, only 37 were examined because ‘the purpose was served’.
Advocates Raju Singh Pawar and Deendayal Bhavsar, who represented Irfan and Asif respectively, informed the Indian Express that they would challenge the court’s decision in the high court.
“Asif was not present at the spot. His only fault was that he accompanied Irfan to sell a mobile phone and they were seen together,’’ Bhavsar argued in court.
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