In a first-ever, Hathras court awards death penalty in rape of a minor

A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences court in Hathras awarded death sentence to a man after finding him guilty of raping and burning alive a minor girl in 2019. This is the first-ever case in which a death sentence was awarded under the POCSO Act in the district. The man has also been imposed a fine of Rs1.5 lakh

Hathras (Uttar Pradesh): A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Hathras awarded death sentence to a man after finding him guilty of raping and burning alive a minor girl. The incident took place on April 15, 2019, in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh.

This is the first-ever case in which a death sentence was awarded under the POCSO Act in the district.

The convict identified as Monu Thakur, from the same village entered the house of the girl with two three men when she was alone at home. Thakur, after raping the minor girl, pour kerosene on her and burnt her. The girl was rushed to the hospital, however, died during the treatment.

Advocate Raj Pal Singh Disawar said that the convict was awarded death sentence by the additional district and sessions judge (POCSO), Hathras court Pratibha Saxena. The man has also been imposed a fine of Rs1.5 lakh.

The judge, in the order, also said that the girl did not even start her life and it is painful to imagine what she must have gone through.

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