"Expected Capital Punishment": Women's Commission chief On Kathua verdict

The National Commission for Women chairperson on Monday said the Pathankot court decision convicting six accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua in January 2018 was not enough and expected harsher punishment for them.

"Was expecting capital punishment for Kathua rape and murder criminals. Jammu and Kashmir government must go for appeal in higher court," NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma tweeted.

Three convicts in the Kathua rape and murder case, Sanji Ram, Parvesh Kumar and Deepak Khajuria were sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday.

"The trio has been convicted under 302 (murder) and under 376 D (gang rape) of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Under the murder charge, they have been imprisoned to life, with a fine of 1 lakh, while they will have to serve 25 years in jail, each, with a fine of Rs. 50,000 for the charge of gang rape," Mubeen Farooqui, victim's advocate told reporters outside the court.

Police officials Tilak Raj, Anand Dutta and Surender Verma have been sentenced to five years in jail for causing destruction of evidence. They have also been directed to pay rupees twenty thousand each.

Read: Accessed: Court Order In Horrific Kathua Rape And Murder Case Explains Life Terms for 3 Convicts, Says "Every Possibility To Rehabilitate And Reform Them"

Earlier, the Pathankot court had convicted six out of seven accused who were involved in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua in January 2018.

Village head Sanji Ram, his friend Parvesh Kumar, two Special Police Officers Deepak Khajuria and Surender Verma, Head Constable Tilak Raj, Sub Inspector Anand Dutta were found guilty, while Vishal, the son of Sanjhi Ram, got acquitted.

The incident took place last year when an eight-year-old girl was kidnapped, gang-raped and killed after being tortured for days. The case caused public outrage with activists and people hitting the streets demanding justice to the victim.

The Crime Branch arrested eight accused. The trial of seven began in April last year and concluded on June 3. However, the trial of the eighth accused, a juvenile is yet to begin as the petition on his age is pending for a hearing in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.