3 convicts get death sentence in 2013 Kamduni gangrape and murder case

Six persons were convicted for gangrape and murder of a 21-year-old college girl.

A Kolkata court on Saturday sentenced 3 convicts to death and other 3 to life imprisonment in the 2013 Kamduni gangrape and murder case.

The gang-rape and brutal murder of the 21-year-old college girl occurred when she was returning home at Kamduni, about 50 km from Kolkata, in North 24-Parganas district after appearing for an examination at her college on June 7, 2013.

The second year BA student was pulled into a farm when she was walking back home along a deserted road after alighting from a bus. She was subsequently gang-raped and murdered.

Her mutilated body was found the next morning in a corner of the farm.The incident had sparked an outrage in the state amidst concerns over women's safety.

Convicts' counsel on Friday argued against possible death sentence to some of those found guilty claiming that earlier cases of more gruesome incidents invited lesser sentences.

Additional District and Sessions judge Sanchita Sarkar, who convicted six persons in the gangrape and murder of the girl on Thursday, said she intended to pronounce sentence for the convicts today, following conclusion of arguments.

Firoz Edulji, counsel for convicts Saiful Ali and Ansar Ali, submitted before the court that there had been previous cases of rape and murder in which the convicts were given punishment other than death sentence.

Saiful Ali, Ansar Ali and Aminul Ali were found guilty under sections 376(d) (gangrape), 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code.

The judge found the other three - Imanul Islam, Aminul Islam and Bhola Naskar guilty under sections 376(d) (gangrape), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of IPC.

Rafiqul Islam and Nur Ali were acquitted owing to lack of evidence against them. Another accused Gopal Naskar died during trial in August last year.