Indian courts convict men in separate child rape and murder cases

In two separate legal developments in India, fast-track courts have delivered verdicts in cases involving the rape and murder of young girls.

In Mysuru, Karnataka, a fast-track court convicted 32-year-old Karthik for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl. The victim had traveled to the city with her family to sell balloons during the Dussehra festival. Investigators utilized CCTV footage to identify the accused, who was arrested within 24 hours of the incident. The court is scheduled to announce the sentence on October 16.

In Nashik, Maharashtra, a fast-track court sentenced 24-year-old Vijay Sanjay Khairnar to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. The judge described the crime as the ‘rarest of the rare’. The court also ordered that 10 lakh rupees in financial assistance be provided to the victim's family. The incident, which occurred in Malegaon taluka, had previously triggered widespread protests across the state.