Rape accused, his live-in partner get life for burning alive survivor

Meerut: A special SC/ST Act court in Bulandshahr convicted a rape accused and his live-in partner to life imprisonment for burning a 15-year-old girl whom the male convict and his neighbour had raped at a village in Jahangirabad area in 2020. Additional district and sessions judge Dhirendra Kumar also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 each on the convicts. The gang-rape case is still pending in court, said special public prosecutor Vipul Raghav.While delivering the verdict, the court observed: "Such offences have no place in society. Stern punishment is the only provision for such brutality."The prosecution said that on Aug 14, 2020, the minor was gang-raped in a sugarcane field by two men. The survivor's family filed a police complaint, following which an FIR under IPC Section 376 (rape), 3/4 the Pocso Act and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act was registered.The accused and members of his family threatened the girl's family with death if the gang-rape case is not withdrawn. On Nov 17, 2020, the couple entered the girls house when she was alone, poured petrol on her and set her ablaze. She died in hospital later.A separate FIR under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 452 (house trespass), 302 (murder), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 3(2)5 of SC/ST Act was registered against the couple.After examining witness statements and evidence, the court held the man, 32, and woman, 30, guilty of the heinous crime.