Rajasthan: 19-yr-old gets death penalty for raping 7-month-old under new law

Public prosecutor said that the case was fast-tracked and trial was completed after 13 hearings.

Alwar, July 21: In the first death sentence under new rape law, a 19-year-old has been ordered death penalty for raping seven-month-old baby in Rajasthan in 2018. In March, state assembly passed the law that allows death penalty in rape of minors under 12 years of age.

After Madhya Pradesh which passed the law, Rajasthan is the second state to bring such law in force.

A special court hearing cases of SC/ST Act and POCSO Act in Alwar sentenced to death Pintu, who was found guilty of raping the infant in Laxmangarh area in Alwar on May 9.

Special Judge Jagendra Agrawal, who had conducted daily hearings in the case, found the youth guilty on July 18 and announced the quantum of punishment on Saturday.

Pintu was convicted under IPC sections 363, 366 A (related to abduction of minor) and 376 AB (for rape on woman under twelve years of age) and 5(M)/6 of POCSO Act.

The death penalty was awarded under the IPC section 376 AB, SHO of the Laxmangarh police station Prahlad Sahay said.

The incident happened on May 9 when the accused took the baby from a relative who was babysitting the child. When parents questioned about the whereabouts of the child, relative told them that the neighbour had taken her away. About a kilometre away from their home, she was found crying in a football field.

The baby was admitted in Alwar hospital and medical reports confirmed rape after which the accused was arrested.

Kuldeep Singh, public prosecutor said, “This is the first such case in Rajasthan and the third in the country. In the first two cases, the accused was given death sentence.”

He also said that the case was fast-tracked and trial was completed after 13 hearings.