Man gets life term for sexual assault, murder

A POCSO court in Mainpuri on Friday sentenced a 22-year-old man to rigorous imprisonment for life for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old Class 11 student in the Bewar area last year, while acquitting two other accused for lack of sufficient evidence, the prosecution said.

Special POCSO Court Judge Jehendra Pal Singh convicted Karan alias Alok and sentenced him to life imprisonment after hearing the prosecution and defence, state prosecutor Sheilendri Rajput told PTI.

According to the prosecution, the girl had left her home for college on May 15, 2025. On the way, the accused and another man, both from the same village, allegedly intercepted and abducted her to a secluded place, where she was raped.

The prosecution said the girl resisted and raised an alarm, following which she was strangled to death.

After the killing, the man allegedly called his father and the two took the body to Kansepur village, where they allegedly hanged it from a gular tree using her 'chunri' to make the death appear to be suicide, Rajput said.

The following day, the man's father allegedly informed the girl's father that she had died by suicide.

The girl's father subsequently lodged an FIR at Bewar police station against the main accused, his friend and father, following which police filed a chargesheet against the three after investigation.

The prosecution examined witnesses and produced documentary evidence before the court.

After considering the evidence and arguments, the court convicted the man and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life, while acquitting his father Jetendra and friend for want of sufficient evidence, Rajput said.