Man Sentenced to Death for Rape and Murder

A Siliguri court in West Bengal has sentenced Mohammad Abbas to death for the brutal rape and murder of a minor girl, a case that has garnered significant public attention and protests. The 31-year-old was found guilty of first sexually assaulting and then killing the Class 11 student by smashing her head with a brick on August 21, 2023. The court ruled under sections 302 of the IPC and 6 of the POCSO Act, while also awarding the victim's family a compensation of ₹10 lakh. Public Prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee praised the verdict, asserting it reflects the severity of the crime, which he described as one of the 'rarest of the rare' cases. Abbas, who plans to appeal the decision, received additional sentences of seven years in prison for related charges. The case was concluded in just over a year, amidst heightened scrutiny of sexual violence in the region.