A special court in Bulandshahr has delivered a powerful verdict in a chilling 2016 case, sentencing five men to rigorous life imprisonment for the brutal gang rape of a woman and her teenage daughter at gunpoint on a national highway in Uttar Pradesh. The court condemned the act as one of the most heinous crimes against society.
Court's Stern Verdict and Observations
On Monday, the court of Special Judge-III, Om Prakash Verma, imposed a life term on each of the five convicts. Additionally, the judge levied a hefty fine of Rs 1.8 lakh on each perpetrator. In his scathing observations, Judge Verma emphasized the profound and lasting damage inflicted by such crimes.
The court stated that rape is not merely a physical assault but an act that destroys the victim's entire personality, causing deep psychological and physical trauma. It expressed grave concern for the young victim, who was 13 at the time of the crime and is now 22, doubting if she would ever fully recover from the 'appalling incident'.
A Crime That Shook the Conscience
The horrific incident took place in 2016 on National Highway-91 in Uttar Pradesh. The assailants, armed with a gun, subjected the mother and her daughter to a savage sexual assault. The court described the crime as committed with 'inhumanity and extreme brutality', leaving the victims to endure pain and humiliation throughout their lives.
Judge Verma pointedly linked the verdict to broader national campaigns for women's safety and empowerment. He noted that while governments run initiatives like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao', such brutal acts continue to occur. The court warned that without adopting the harshest stance against such barbarity, these campaigns risk becoming meaningless, and daughters will neither be safe nor able to study freely.
Message on Leniency and Justice
The judgment firmly rejected any possibility of a lenient approach towards the convicts. The court asserted that from the standpoint of justice, showing mercy was unjustified given the inhuman and brutal nature of the crime. This strong stance is seen as a significant judicial message aimed at deterring such grievous offenses against women and children.
The life sentence and substantial fine underscore the judiciary's commitment to delivering stringent punishment in cases tried under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The verdict has been welcomed by legal experts and child rights activists as a step towards ensuring accountability for sexual violence.
