Man sentenced to death for Jalgaon rape, murders

A special court in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district has sentenced a 19-year-old man to death for raping a 13-year-old girl and murdering her as well as her three minor siblings, observing the crime was “premeditated and exceptionally cruel”.

Special POCSO Court Judge S R Yadav said the case fell in the “rarest of rare” category and had shocked the judicial and societal conscience. The act of 19-year-old Sitaram Barela was “unpardonable and it warrants the death penalty”, the court asserted. “The accused has wiped out four minor children in a premeditated and cold-blooded, exceptionally cruel and diabolic manner. One of them raped by him,” the special judge said.

Noting that sexual offences against minors are increasing day by day rapidly, the court highlighted that minors are being killed for “sexual lust of the youthful generation” and, hence, the judicial fraternity owes a duty to punish such people in a harsh voice.