6 convicted in Kamduni rape-murder

A fast-track court on Thursday convicted six out of nine accused of the Kamduni gangrape and murder case in which a 21-year-old college girl was brutally assaulted and murdered in June 2013. Two other accused in the case were acquitted and one accused died during the trial. Those found guilty are Saiful Ali, Ansar Ali, Amin Ali, Imanul Islam, Bhola Naskar and Aminur Islam.

The six convicts, along with two others — Rafiqul Islam Gazi and Noor Ali — were produced before additional district and session judge (Bench II) Sanchita Sarkar of the city sessions court at 2 pm. The courtroom was packed with victim’s family members and neighbours, the culprits’ family members, lawyers, mediapersons and cops. Reading out the verdict, the judge declared Saiful, Ansar and Amin guilty of both gangrape and murder. The trio were convicted under Sections 376A (causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of the victim), 376D (gangrape), 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Saiful, the main accused, and Ansar were also convicted under Sections 109 (abatement of an offence with others) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC. The judge told them they may get 20 years’ imprisonment as minimum punishment for their crime. She observed they may be awarded either life imprisonment or death penalty as maximum punishment.

She pronounced Imanul, Bhola and Aminur guilty under Sections 376D, 201 and 120B of the IPC, but acquitted Rafiqul and Noor due to lack of evidence. Nabanna sources said the government was contemplating to move the higher court against the acquittal. Another accused, Gopal Naskar (65), died at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital in August last year while in judicial custody.

After the verdict was announ-ced, Firoze Edulji, defence counsel, drew the attention of the judge who was about to announce the date for the quantum of punishment.

Mr Edulji prayed for a chance to argue before the announcement of the quantum of punishment whether the accused should get life imprisonment or death penalty. “The judge allowed me to place my submission on Friday,” Mr Edulji said. The hearing is expected to begin at 2 pm. But all eyes would be on the quantum of punishment.

On June 7, 2013, a 21-year-old second year college student was forcibly taken away by a gang of nine when she was walking home in Kamduni village in Barasat of North 24 Parganas after getting down from a bus.

The next day, the girl was found murdered after being gangraped. The gruesome crime enraged the residents of Kamduni and sparked a massive public outcry across state, prompting chief minister Mamata Banerjee to visit to the victim’s house.

To placate angry villagers, Ms Banerjee assured that the police would file a chargesheet within 15 days and a fast-track court would deliver the verdict within a month. Her government would seek death penalty for the culprits, she promised. Later, the CID took over the case and filed a chargesheet at the Barasat court. But the trial was shifted to the city sessions court due to frequent protests by the villagers at the Barasat court. The trial concluded on December 22 last year.

Victim’s kin attacked by rape convict in court A drama unfolded in the court premises when one of the six convicted in the Kamduni gangrape case, Ansar Ali, freed himself from the clutches of the police personnel escorting him and tried to attack the victim’s family members. He even threatened to harm the victim’s brother when he called him by his name.

Running away from the cops, Ansar told to the brother of the victim, “Toke Dekhe Nebo (I will see you).” The victim’s family members exploded in protest. Ansar was, however, quickly overpowered and whisked away by the cops from the spot. The incident took place when the six convicts were being taken to the lock-up from the courtroom at the first floor of the Bichar Bhavan. Deputy commissioner of police (reserve force) Ashesh Biswas and other police personnel were posted there. In the morning, a group of DSO workers tried to enter the court premises shouting slogans.

Their attempt was however foiled by the police personnel, led by DCP (central) Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi, who closed the gates of the court quickly as the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code was promulgated.

A scuffle also took place between the police and DSO activists. A police constable fell down and was injured in the fight. He was rescued by his colleagues. Members of some Left forums and civil rights organisations also demonstrated in front of the court. They demanded harshest punishment for the accused.