The girl fainted and Sandeep took her to an isolated area
Two Indian men were handed life sentences on August 28, 2019, after they were convicted of kidnapping and raping a minor girl.
The men were identified as Sandeep Singh, also known as Sunny, and Rohit. Both were residents of the Punjab state of Nangal Khunga.
A third man was also involved but he has not been identified and is still on the run.
The sentences were passed a year after the crime was committed. They had kidnapped the girl after spraying a harmful gas on her mother and two sons.
On August 16, 2018, the girl told officers at Tanda Police Station that the two men and another had sexually assaulted her the night before.
She explained that she studies at a public school and was on her way there when Sandeep, Rohit and another man surrounded her.
Sandeep told her that if she does not meet him later that evening, he will break into her house and kill her family.
On August 15, the three Indian men entered the house in Hoshiarpur. The girl was sleeping next to her mother while her two brothers were sleeping nearby.
They sprayed an intoxicating spray so that the girl’s family would not wake up.
The girl fainted and Sandeep took her to an isolated area where he repeatedly raped her. Both of his friends also raped her.
After committing the attack, the men threatened to kill her family if she spoke about the incident. They then ran off.
The girl told her family and the police were soon informed. A case was registered against the three men under section 328 of the Indian Penal Code and section six of the POCSO Act.
Police officers were able to identify and arrest Sandeep and Rohit, however, they could not find any clues leading to the third man.
Sandeep and Rohit were sentenced to life in prison. They were also each fined Rs. 95,000 (£1,090). The two men were told that their sentences will be increased if they fail to pay the fine.
In terms of rape cases in court, lawyer PS Grewal said that strict legal clauses were added in 2018.
Rape cases were researched and clauses linked to them meant that convicts can be sentenced to life in prison in which they must serve at least 20 years in prison.
This is the first case in Punjab where a government lawyer has explained to citizens that raping and gang-raping girls has become as serious as murder.
PS Grewal said that under section 376 in the past, people would be jailed for seven years and fined. Now rape can result in a prison sentence of at least 10 years.
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