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Journalism of Courage
Calling it the rarest of rare case,a court in Bhopal on Thursday awarded death penalty to a man convicted for raping and killing an eight-year-old after a trial that lasted for nine days. The victims mutilated body was found near the state home ministers bungalow last month.
After examining 33 witnesses,the court convicted Nandkishore,50,for abduction,rape and murder under the IPC as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act,2012.
The Opposition had held several protests outside Home Minister Umashankar Guptas residence,saying the incident exposed the deteriorating law and order situation in the state,where minors were not safe even in a protected area.
Prosecution officer Rajendra Giri told The Indian Express that a senior scientific officer from Sagars forensic laboratory had been specially called to depose in the court.
Nandkishore,a neighbour of the victim,was arrested on February 6,a day after the incident that came to light when a passer-by saw a dog carrying what looked like a childs limb.
Nandkishore was arrested after the victims four-year-old brother narrated how his sister had been lured by him. The four-year-old also identified the accused.
Nandkishore had first claimed innocence but the police later recorded his confession under Section 27 of the Evidence Act.
