Surat Court Sentences Man to Death for Raping and Murdering of 20-Month-Old Girl

Surat additional sessions court on Wednesday sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a 20-month-old girl in February this year.  

The person identified as Ismail alias Ismail Yusuf Hajat had raped and murdered the 20-month-old girl in February. 

The verdict, announced by the additional sessions judge, came after the convict's conviction on Monday for the heinous crime. 

As confirmed by Nayan Sukhadwala, the district government pleader, today, Ismail received a sentence from Additional Sessions Judge Shankuntala Solanki for the abduction, rape, and murder of a 20-month-old child. 

The court handed down the death sentence by hanging, citing Ismail's conviction under sections 302 (murder) and 376AB (rape of a girl younger than 12 years) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The judge, in addition to the death sentence by hanging and life imprisonment for the rape and murder, also sentenced Ismail under sections 364 and 366 of the IPC, with a fine of ₹1,000. 

Sukhadwala stated that after considering the victim's family's financial situation, the court ordered Ismail to pay ₹10 lakh as compensation to the family. 

He further mentioned, "The girl’s body had severe injuries…. She had bite marks on her abdominal area.” 

As per the prosecution, Ismail, who knew the girl's father, took advantage of their acquaintance and persuaded the girl to accompany him under the pretext of buying snacks on February 27.  

When Ismail failed to return with the girl, her family became concerned and launched a search as well as informed the police about the situation. After several hours, the lifeless body of the girl was discovered near a lake, behind an abandoned building in Kapletha village, while Ismail had gone missing.

Subsequently, the police traced Ismail to a village near Surat and arrested him on February 28 for the crimes of rape and murder committed against the young girl.

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