Indian court gives death sentence to two for raping, burning alive minor girl

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised

A special court convicted two men of raping and burning alive a minor girl in a coal furnace in August last yearand sentenced them to death in Bhilwaradistrict of India's Rajasthan.

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The case was classifiedas the"rarest of the rare"by Judge Anil Guptaas he gave the verdict.The men, who were brothers and identified as Kanha and Kalu, were found guilty of committing the crime against the 14-year-old girl by POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) on Saturday(May 18).

The court also acquitted seven others, which included three women, who faced accusations of destroying evidence.

Itis expectedthatthe acquittal willbe challengedin the Rajasthan High Court.As per reports, two of the three women are married to Kalu and Kanha.

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Speaking to the reporters, Special Public Prosecutor Mahaveer Singh Kishnawat said, "Kalu and Kanhawere awardeddeath penalty."

He confirmed on Saturday (May 18) that they had been found guilty "of raping and killing the girl." The crime took place on August 3 last year.

Forensic examination suggests girl was alive whenburnt

On the fateful day, the girl had taken the cattle herd of her family for grazing when she faced sexual assault. The incident took place in the Shahpura area of Kotri tehsil in Bhilwara.

After the girl did not come back home, her family started looking for her. Speaking to the media, her brother said, "We started looking for her in the afternoon when the cattle returnedbutmy sister didn't return with them."

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After hourswent bysearching for the girl, the familyat10 pm localtimesaw smoke rising from a furnace even though it was raining.

On examination,they discovered torn clothes and slippers nearby and called the police.The bones and half-burnt body parts were recovered by the authorities from the furnace. Subsequent forensic investigation of body parts revealed that the girl was burnt alive.

"Forensic examination report suggested the girl was alive before being burnt in the furnace. She could (have been) unconsciousbutshe was alive," said a senior police officer.

In the investigation,it was also foundthat the girl was hit on her head with a stick and was knocked unconscious after the rape.

(With inputs from agencies)