A Special POCSO court in Telangana’s Nalgonda district delivered a landmark verdict on Thursday, sentencing a 24-year-old butcher to death for the horrific rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in April 2013. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh on the convict, whose heinous crime sent shockwaves through the community.

The accused, who has hearing and speech impairments, was provided an interpreter to ensure a fair trial, which spanned over 12 years due to meticulous legal proceedings. The court convicted him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, finding him guilty of sexually assaulting and strangling the young victim, a resident of his own colony. Her lifeless body was callously dumped in a drainage canal, where it was later discovered.

The case began when the girl’s family reported her missing, prompting police to register a missing person case. The grim discovery of her body in the canal led to a swift investigation, culminating in the accused’s arrest and judicial custody. Nalgonda District Superintendent of Police Sharat Chandra Pawar hailed the verdict as a step toward justice, emphasizing the police’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children.

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This ruling underscores the judiciary’s resolve to deliver stringent punishment for crimes against minors, offering closure to the victim’s grieving family while serving as a stark warning to potential offenders.

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