2 men get life term for setting Dalit teen afire in front of sister in UP

2 men get life term for setting Dalit teen afire in front of sister in UP

AGRA: A court in Agra has sentenced two men to life term for setting a 15-year-old Dalit girl on fire in front of her elder sister in Dec 2018. The main accused, a 25-year-old cousin of the victim, killed himself after learning of her death.

After the verdict on Wednesday, the victim’s mother said, “We are happy but not satisfied. The accused should have been given death penalty. My youngest daughter, who was just nine at the time, is still traumatised by her elder sister’s murder. We plan to move the high court to seek death penalty for the convicts.”

Govt prosecutor Satya Prakash Dhakad said, “The girl, a Class 10 student, was returning from school with her 19-year-old sister when two bike-borne men doused her with petrol and set her ablaze near Malpura police station.”

She suffered 70% burn injuries and was rushed to Agra’s SN Medical College. She was later transferred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, where she succumbed on Dec 20, 2018.

“Investigation revealed that the victim’s cousin was enraged after she thwarted his advances. He hired two men, Vijay Singh (24) and Akash Kumar (25), to kill her for Rs 15,000. He provided the motorcycle, petrol and lighter used in the crime,” the prosecutor said.

“The accused were charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 326A (causing grievous hurt by using acid or similar substances), 201 (destroying evidence) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). Based on evidence and testimonies by 26 individuals, including the victim’s elder sister, additional district judge-17 Nitin Thakur found them guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment, along with Rs 5 lakh fine.”

Courtesy : Times of India

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