Court sentences man to death for rape, murder of 10-year-old girl

By Sagaya Fernando | May 4, 2025
 

Bharuch, Gujarat, India – A court in the western Indian state of Gujarat has sentenced a 36-year-old man to death for the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl, in a case that drew national outrage for its brutality and resulted in one of the fastest criminal trials in the country’s recent history.

The brutality of which reminded one of 2012 Delhi gangrape incident that had occurred on the same date, December 16, 14 years ago.

The Ankleshwar Additional Sessions Court delivered the verdict on Friday May 2, less than three months after the girl was assaulted on December 16, 2024. She died on December 23 at a hospital in Vadodara from severe internal injuries. The case was tried under India’s updated criminal code and classified as “the rarest of rare” — a legal threshold for capital punishment.

The court found the man guilty of abducting, sexually assaulting, and fatally injuring the child, who belonged to a migrant family from Jharkhand. Prosecutors said the victim sustained multiple bite wounds, lacerations, and internal injuries caused by the insertion of a metal rod. Despite undergoing several surgeries, the girl succumbed to her injuries seven days after the attack.

Special Public Prosecutor P.B. Pandya said the prosecution relied on forensic evidence, CCTV footage, crime scene reconstruction, and a dying declaration recorded at the hospital. “The victim’s statement, made before doctors while she was still conscious, proved decisive,” Pandya told reporters. All 38 prosecution witnesses supported the case, and none turned hostile during the trial.

The convict, who lived in the same settlement as the victim, was reportedly married and had a daughter. The prosecution argued that the crime was committed in an exceptionally cruel manner and deserved the severest punishment to reflect the gravity of the offense and uphold public conscience.

The court also ordered the Gujarat government to provide ₹1 million (approximately USD 12,000) in compensation to the victim’s family under the state’s victim support scheme.

The incident, which occurred on the same date as the 2012 Delhi gang rape, sparked political and public responses. Opposition leaders, including lawmakers from the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, visited the hospital during the girl’s treatment and criticized the state government over increasing crimes against women and children.

Following her death, the Gujarat government arranged for the girl's remains to be transported to her home village in Jharkhand, accompanied by police officials.

The man was convicted under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to child abduction, rape of a minor, murder, and aggravated assault, in addition to sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Legal experts say while the verdict could be appealed, the expedited trial and strong evidence set a precedent in handling similar cases swiftly. Rights advocates, however, continue to urge governments to focus not just on punishment but on prevention and stronger child protection mechanisms.