After last month’s Criminal law Amendment Ordinance providing ‘death penalty’ for convicts of raping a minor, the Odisha police on Friday became the first in the country to file the charge-sheet against such a rape accused seeking stringent punishment for him.
Mohamed Mustaq, a 25-year-old married youth of Jagannthpur village under Salepur block, was arrested on April 22 for allegedly raping and strangulating a six-year-old girl of the same village. The victim died on April 29 while undergoing treatment.
“The charge-sheet was filed in a Special Court in accordance with the provisions enjoined under the Criminal law (Amendment) Ordinance of 2018,” informed Central Range IGP Soumendra Priyadarhsi here on Friday. The Ordinance got Presidential assent on April 22 this year.
Priyadarshi said the police have sought trial in the sensational case under Sections 362, 376 AB and 302 of IPC and Section 6 of POCSO Act. Besides the IPC and the POCSO Act, the recent Ordinance has also effected several amendments in the provisions of Evidence Act and CrPC. Under 376 AB of IPC, whoever commits rape of children under 12 years shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 20 years and which may extend to imprisonment for remainder of natural life and with fine or with death.
Notably, the accused Mustaq while under judicial custody had made an attempt to commit suicide in the toilet of the Salepur Sub-Jail last week. Sources said that after learning that stringent punishments are waiting for him under the new law, he attempted to take the extreme step.