Himachal Pradesh: Man Convicted In Rape-Murder Case Of Minor After 4 Years

Himachal Pradesh rape-murder case: A court in Shimla convicted Anil Kumar alias Nillu alias Kamlesh for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old schoolgirl on April 28, Wednesday.

The rape-murder incident took place four years back. The convict had raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl, hailing from a forest in Shimla’s Kotkhai area. This incident triggered massive turmoil amongst the public in Himachal Pradesh.

Kamlesh was held guilty under Sections 376 (2)(i), 376 (A), and 302 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the POCSO Act by Special Judge Rajeev Bhardwaj. The hearing for the quantum of sentence is scheduled for May 11.

The judge said, "Of the 14 crucial points of evidence brought forth by the CBI, 12 were found to be against Nillu, the most important being the matching of his DNA with samples found on the crime spot."

Nevertheless, the accused has denied his charges while attending the hearing virtually from prison in Shimla.

The judge commented on the case, "the crime was committed in a spur of the minute, with Nillu making up his mind to rape and kill the victim when he confronted her on a crossing in the forest while she was leading from school to home."

More About The Himachal Pradesh Rape-Murder Case

The 16-year-old rape survivor went missing in July 2017 while she was walking towards her home from school in the Kotkhai area of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh. Two days later, the local police found her dead body in a forest. Her autopsy suggested rape and murder. The police took immediate actions and arrested six men from the area. One accused person died in custody.

The incomplete investigation led to intensified protests among the public and the case was transferred from the hands of the police to the CBI.

The CBI further arrested nine police investigators, including an IGP, for the custodial death and the rest five accused were released eventually.

The 28-year-old accused was arrested in April 2018 on the basis of DNA evidence.