Rajasthan: Two men sentenced to death for raping, murdering minor girl

Bhilwara (Rajasthan) [India], May 20 (ANI): The two main accused were sentenced to death by the POSCO court in Rajasthan's Bhilwara on Monday for raping and murdering a minor girl in August last year.
The incident occurred on August 2, 2023, in the Kotdi police station area of Bhilwara-Shahpura district, where a minor girl was brutally gang-raped and subsequently burned alive in a coal furnace while she was grazing goats on her farm.
The convicted individuals, identified as Kalu and Kanah, received the death penalty for their heinous actions.
Mahaveer Singh Kishnawat, Special Public Prosecutor, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating, "Today, a historic verdict has come, an absolute verdict has come, the whole country is happy. The stain that was on Bhilwara has been washed away today. Those who committed gangrape and murder have been punished by the honourable court today, both accused have been sentenced to death."
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma welcomed the court's decision, affirming, "The decision of the Hon'ble Court to award death penalty to the culprits in the Bhatti gang rape and murder case in Kotdi, Bhilwara in the year 2023 is welcome."
"Today, during the successful tenure of the BJP's double engine government, there is a zero tolerance policy against crimes against girls in the state. Today, there is no place for crime and criminals in Rajasthan and if anyone dares to commit a crime, he will not be spared at any cost," the CM wrote on his X timeline.
Ashok Gehlot, Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader, lauded the court's verdict.
Taking to X, Gehlot wrote, "The court's decision to impose the death penalty on the perpetrators of the rape and murder of a girl in Kotadi, Bhilwara, that took place on August 20, 2023, is commendable."
Gehlot further emphasized the prompt action taken by the government at the time of the incident, highlighting the swift arrest of the accused and the filing of the charge sheet within about a month.
"At that time, our government took prompt action against the accused in this incident, swiftly arresting them. The ADG Crime was sent to the crime scene and the case was taken up under the Case Officer Scheme. The charge sheet for this case was filed within about a month. Today, within about 10 months, these two offenders have been sentenced," he added. (ANI)