Death sentence to man for raping, murdering 4-year-old girl in Manipur

A man has been awarded the death sentence by a POSCO court of Manipur's Senapati district for raping and murdering a four-year-old girl in 2015.

Special judge A Noutuneshwari Devi awarded the capital punishment to 24-year-old R David, a resident of Maram Kavanam village in Senapati district, yesterday under relevant section of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

David had raped the girl and then strangulated her to death. Her body was then kept hidden in a cattle shed, the prosecution said.

The court ruled that David would be hanged till death.

"It is one of the rarest of the rare cases. The court opined that if such offence committed by the convict is taken lightly, then there is no safety for children in the society.

"The court further decided that maximum punishment should be awarded as an eye opener for the society, so as to prevent such brutal and heinous crime in the society and sentenced David to death," the order said.