Five sentenced to death in rape, murder of minor girl

Odisha: In 2012, a minor girl was reportedly Gang raped and murder by five accused in Beklundi village, Keonjhar district of Odisha.

The judge pronounced the capital punishment yesterday.

The convicted are Mata Munda, Mangal Prusty, Jiten Munda, Harjit Singh and Biswanath Munda. Two other accused in the case are yet to be apprehended.

On August 1, 2012, the 13-year-old girl was returning from tuition class when she was accosted by the accused. After raping the girl, the seven killed her with sharp weapons.

Then they strangled the girl and fled the spot.

As the girl did not return home, her family members and villagers went in search of her. After finding her in the forest, they rushed her to Barbil hospital where the doctors declared her brought dead.

The police swung into action after the locals resorted to agitation and demanded action against the culprits.

Police sources said the accused belong to the same village and work as daily labourers. The mastermind of the incident was Mata Munda, who was involved in several activities of theft, rape and extortion.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to their crime before the police. They were booked and sent to jail by the police.

The five convicts were charged under Sections 302, 366 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code.