MP: Man gets death penalty for killing 7-year-old girl after failing to rape her

Additional Sessions Judge and Special Judge (POCSO Act) Surekha Mishra sentenced Saddam (31) to death and also imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 on him, while directing the state government to give Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the girl's family.

Indore: A man was sentenced to death by a court in Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Monday for killing a 7-year-old girl after abducting her with the intention of committing rape but failing to do so as she raised an alarm that attracted a mob. Additional Sessions Judge and Special Judge (POCSO Act) Surekha Mishra sentenced Saddam (31) to death and also imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 on him, while directing the state government to give Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the girl's family.

"The barbaric manner in which this crime has been committed by the accused crossing the limits of inhumanity makes it clear the accused is dangerous for the entire society, is a curse for the society and it is not possible for him to be rehabilitated," the court observed in its verdict.

Saddam was charged with murder and abduction under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, district public prosecution officer Sanjeev Srivastava said. "Saddam abducted the seven-year-old girl with the intention of raping her on September 23, 2022 when she was playing near her grandmother's house in Azad Nagar area. He took her to his house but failed to rape her after she raised an alarm. Enraged, he stabbed her 29 times and killed her," Srivastava said.

Srivastava said the biggest argument of the defence during the trial in the court was that Saddam was not in a good mental condition and had undergone treatment for alleged psychiatric illness. "However, we told the court that Saddam kidnapped the girl she was playing with a boy. But he only kidnapped her as he intended to rape her. The court took note of our argument," he said.

"After committing the crime, Saddam came out of his house and threatened the eyewitnesses saying he would kill them if they approached the police. A CCTV camera installed in the Azad Nagar area had footage of Saddam abducting the girl and his fingerprints were found on the knife recovered from his possession. The DNA report also confirmed his involvement," he informed.

Special Public Prosecutor Sushila Rathore said the prosecution produced 23 witnesses in the court to prove Saddam's crime, including a 12-year-old boy. "A CCTV camera installed at a mosque in Azad Nagar area captured footage of Saddam abducting the girl, which helped prove the crime conclusively," she said. (PTI)