Man sentenced to death for rape, murder of 5-year-old

The incident that took place on February 26 last year.

Published on: Feb 10, 2021, 23:21:52 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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A trial court in Hojai district of Assam on Wednesday sentenced a man to death for rape and murder of a five-year-old girl last year.

The court observed that consensual sex with a minor has been in a legal grey area because the consent given by a minor is not considered to be valid in the eyes of the law. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Additional district and session judge N Senabai sentenced Chandan Harijan to death under sections 302, 376 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for raping and murdering the minor.

The court announced its verdict after a two-month trial and also slapped a fine of ₹5 lakh on the accused.

The incident that took place on February 26 last year had sparked outrage in the area with hundreds of locals staging protests seeking justice.

The body of the victim was found in a jungle a day after she went missing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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