A court in Gujarat's Vapi town has delivered a decisive verdict, sentencing a 42-year-old man to death for the horrific rape, sodomy, and murder of a six-year-old girl. The judgment, pronounced on Thursday, marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice under stringent child protection laws.
The Court's Stern Verdict and Compensation
Additional Sessions Judge H N Vakil handed down the capital punishment to convict Razaak Khan. The court imposed the death penalty for each relevant section of the Indian Penal Code, including charges for murder, rape, and the rape of a girl below twelve years of age. The conviction also firmly applied sections under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
In a move to provide some solace to the grieving family, the court directed that a compensation of Rs 17 lakh be awarded to them. This financial support is part of the legal recourse available to victims of heinous crimes.
Timeline of a Tragedy: The Crime and Investigation
The incident that shook the community occurred on October 23, 2023. The young victim went missing around 11 am while on her way to her maternal grandfather's workplace from her home in Dungra Faliya, within the jurisdiction of Dungra police station. After the family raised the alarm with police in the evening, a desperate search began.
Tragically, the child's body was discovered a day later, concealed in bushes near a creek. A forensic postmortem conducted at Surat's New Civil Hospital provided the chilling confirmation: the girl had been raped, sodomized, and ultimately strangled to death.
Swift Police Work Leads to Conviction
The investigation saw a major breakthrough when CCTV footage identified Razaak Khan as the prime suspect. His arrest followed swiftly on October 25, 2023. Demonstrating commendable efficiency, the police, under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police B N Dave and investigation led by Police Inspector Mayur Patel, filed a comprehensive 700-page chargesheet within just 19 days of the crime's registration.
The prosecution built a robust case, presenting testimonies from 67 witnesses alongside various scientific evidence. This thorough approach proved crucial in securing the conviction. Public Prosecutor Nayan Sukhadwala highlighted that the judgment was announced within one-and-a-half years of the chargesheet being filed, underscoring the relatively expedited judicial process in this case.
The verdict serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences for crimes against children and reinforces the judicial system's role in delivering justice in the most grievous of cases.
