India Sentences Five Men to Death for Gruesome Triple Murder
A court in Chhattisgarh, India, has sentenced five men to death for the gang rape and murder of a teenager, alongside the killings of her father and three-year-old niece. The horrific crime took place in January 2021 when the victims, members of a marginalized tribal community, were offered rides by the assailants while waiting for public transport. As the father tried to protect his daughter during the assault, he was brutally killed. The niece, who was also attacked, succumbed to injuries days later after being found unconscious by local villagers.
Public prosecutor Sunil Kumar Mishra confirmed that the court delivered the verdict on the case, which sparked considerable outrage across the country. A sixth man was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement, as his culpability in the rape itself was not established.
While India imposes the death penalty, it is seldom enforced. The nation has grappled with a significant number of sexual violence cases, averaging nearly 90 rapes reported daily in 2022, with activists warning that many incidents go unreported. High-profile cases, including the 2012 gang rape of a young woman in Delhi, have historically ignited protests and demands for justice reform.
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