Rapist of 6-yr-old girl gets death

A special court in Chittoor on Monday awarded the death penalty to 27-yearold Pathan Mohammad Rafi, accused of raping and murdering a six-yearold girl in Chittoor district on November 8, 2019.

The sentencing of Rafi, a lorry cleaner and resident of Molakavaripalli near Angallu, by special court judge M. Venkata Harinath came in less than 76 days after the police filed the chargesheet in the case. The victim's parents hailed the verdict, saying it should be a deterrent in future to those who resort to such inhuman acts.

Judge Harinath, who is also the First Additional District Magistrate, held Rafi guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act.

He broke the nib of the fountain pen after signing the order awarding the death sentence, as is the custom.

According to the prosecution, Rafi had raped and murdered the girl and dumped her body in some bushes behind the KNR Convention Centre at Chenethanagar in

Angallu in Kurabalakota mandal of Chittoor district.

“The judge fast-tracked the case and awarded the death penalty to the accused Mohammad Rafi on Monday. As required, the order of death sentence was sent to the AP High Court for confirmation,” public prosecutor Lokanadha Reddy told mediapersons here on Monday. “I am satisfied with the judgment. It should act as a deterrent to anyone who entertains such nasty ideas,” he added.

DSP Ravi Manohara Chary believes the extreme punishment will act as a deterrent and send out the message that no one can escape the law.

He said Chittoor Superintendent of police S. Senthil Kumar took a proactive role in pursuing the case, personally directing the entire department right from collecting evidence and nabbing the accused to filing the charge sheet in record time.

“Our department did a good job of collecting evidence. We secured postmortem and forensic science laboratory (FSL) reports in record time to nail the accused. We had over 41 witnesses to the crime and worked as a team to crack the case. We requested judicial officials for a speedy trial and finally a satisfactory verdict was out on Monday,” Mr Chary said.

RAFI HAD raped and murdered the girl and dumped her body in some bushes behind the KNR Convention Centre at Chenethanagar in Angallu in Kurabalakota mandal of Chittoor district.