Man sentenced to death for rape and murder of 6-year-old

A sesssions court in Thane sentenced a 28-year-old man to death for raping and killing a minor girl in 2014

A sesssions court in Thane on Wednesday sentenced a 28-year-old man to death for raping and killing a minor girl in 2014.

Atul Rama Lote, who used to work on a poultry farm at Wada, raped and murdered a 6-year-old girl near a shop (HT)

Special judge for POCSO ( The Prevention Of Children from Sexual Offences Act) 2012, Mrudula Bhatia, sentenced Atul Rama Lote to death.

In February 2014, Lote,28, who used to work on a poultry farm at Wada, Thane, lured a 6-year-old to his farm by offering her chocolate, in the evening. Lote then raped her near a shop on the farm. The minor cried for help but she was strangled to death by Lote.

District government pleader (DGP) Sangeeta Phad said,” There were three witness who saw the accused taking the girl with him.” She said such a sentence boosts faith among people and also on police.

Investigation officer Sanjay Hazare, from Wada police station, said, “The sentence is a great relief to us ( team). We had worked day and night in the case to gather all the evidence. After the girl had gone missing, three people who saw Lote with the girl alerted us. Later the same day we took Lote into custody, who after few hours confessed to the crime”.

Lote was booked under section 363,366a,376,302 of the Indian Penal Code and The Prevention Of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012(POCSO).