Kamduni gang-rape: Court to announce sentence on Saturday

With the arguments on the quantum of punishment not concluded, a city court on Saturday will decide the sentence to the six people convicted in the brutal gang rape and murder of a college student in West Bengal's Kamduni village.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sanchita Sarkar on Thursday convicted Saiful Ali, Ansar Ali and Amin Ali of gang rape and murder. The trio face a maximum punishment of death penalty.

Three other accused-- Sheikh Emanul Islam, Aminur Islam and Bhola Naskar have been convicted of gang rape, criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence and face a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

Amid tight security arrangements, the proceedings of the day began with the defence counsel pleading that the case did not warrant awarding death penalty.

With the counsel yet to conclude their arguments, the court announced it will pronounce the sentencing on Saturday upon conclusion of the arguments.

The 20-year-old girl was attacked while she was returning home from college on June 7, 2013. The second-year BA student was forcibly taken inside a factory where she was gang-raped and then savagely murdered, sparking widespread outrage across the country.

Nine people were arrested and charged for the crime, with the court on Thursday acquitting Rafiqul Islam and Nur Ali while the ninth accused Gopal Naskar died while the trial was on.

The residents of Kamduni led by Tumpa Koyal and Moushumi Koyal continue to press with their demand for death penalty for the convicts and also opposed the acquittal of the two accused.

Led by the two Koyals and several eminent personalities from the city, many of the friends and relatives of the victim, had floated a platform 'Kamduni Pratibadi Mancha' seeking speedy justice and capital punishment to the guilty.

They knocked on the doors of top political and constitutional authorities including the president, demanding the trial be expedited.