Assam Court Hands Death Sentence in 2023 Rape and Murder of Four-Year-Old

A court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023, bringing the case to a close after more than three years of proceedings.

Bilasipara Additional and District Court Special Judge Rana Dutta handed down the capital punishment to the convict, Utpal Roy, describing the offence as falling within the "rarest of rare" category.

The court also imposed a series of concurrent sentences and fines under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Roy received the death penalty for murder, along with a fine of Rs 10,000, failing which he would undergo six months of simple imprisonment.

For aggravated penetrative sexual assault against a child, he was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000. He was further given five years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 4,000 fine for causing the disappearance of evidence and providing false information to screen an offender. The judge ruled that all the sentences would run concurrently.

The case dates back to September 4, 2023, when, according to the prosecution, Roy lured the child with the promise of chocolate before sexually assaulting and killing her at Krishnakali Tea Estate in Dhubri district.

A case of rape, murder and removal of evidence was registered, with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which deals with punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault, added to the charges. Roy was subsequently arrested, and police filed a chargesheet in March 2024.