Sentence reserved in Danish woman's rape case

A court here on Thursday reserved for yet another day its order on the quantum of sentence after Delhi Police sought maximum punishment for five convicts in the 2014 Danish woman's rape case.

Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava, while arguing on the quantum of sentence in the case before Additional Sessions Judge Ramesh Kumar, said the offence was committed with the foreigner in a "barbaric and inhuman manner" and "these convicts have dented the reputation of the country".

He said in India guests are treated as God but the convicts raped a foreigner, therefore, a message should be sent to the society that rule of law prevails in India and wrongdoers would be dealt with an iron hand.

The five convicts sought leniency, citing that they belong to the 20s age group and come from poor family background.

Arjun, Raju alias Chhakka, Mohammad Raja, Mahendra alias Ganja and Raju alias Bajji were held guilty of the offences of gang rape, dacoity, kidnapping, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and common intention under the Indian Penal Code.

All the five convicts were present in the courtroom when the judge announced the verdict.

Along with Shyam Lal, the five accused had robbed and raped the Danish woman at knife point near the New Delhi railway station in January 2014 after she sought directions to her hotel in nearby Paharganj area.

Shyam Lal died in February in Tihar Jail here and proceedings against him were abated.

Three minors are also facing proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board in the case.

Police said the accused were vagabonds who took the woman to an isolated spot near the Divisional Railway Officers' Club, snatched her belongings and then raped her.

--IANS

akk/bim/dg