BHILWARA: A Rajasthan Pocso court on Monday handed down death sentences to two brothers for gang raping a 17-year-old and burning her alive in Shahpura district on Aug 2 last year. The case had triggered public outrage and led BJP, then in opposition, to target the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress govt over crimes against women ahead of assembly polls late last year.
The court in Bhilwara had pronounced Kalu Kalbeliya, 25, and Kanha Kalbeliya, 21, guilty on Saturday, while acquitting seven others of conspiracy and destroying evidence.
The girl’s mother expressed satisfaction and said justice has been done. Special public prosecutor Mahavir Kishanawat, who appeared for the state, said govt will challenge the seven acquittals in HC.
Soon after the death sentences were pronounced, ex-CM Gehlot sought to highlight his govt’s role in the outcome, saying action was taken immediately and accused arrested. “ADG Crime was sent. Chargesheet was filed within a month. Today, within 10 months, the culprits have been sentenced,” Gehlot wrote on X.
CM Bhajanlal Sharma hailed the verdict as an example of ” glorious tenure of BJP’s double engine govt”, marked by zero tolerance to crime against women. “There is no place for criminals in Rajasthan,” Sharma said.
The court in Bhilwara had pronounced Kalu Kalbeliya, 25, and Kanha Kalbeliya, 21, guilty on Saturday, while acquitting seven others of conspiracy and destroying evidence.
The girl’s mother expressed satisfaction and said justice has been done. Special public prosecutor Mahavir Kishanawat, who appeared for the state, said govt will challenge the seven acquittals in HC.
Soon after the death sentences were pronounced, ex-CM Gehlot sought to highlight his govt’s role in the outcome, saying action was taken immediately and accused arrested. “ADG Crime was sent. Chargesheet was filed within a month. Today, within 10 months, the culprits have been sentenced,” Gehlot wrote on X.
CM Bhajanlal Sharma hailed the verdict as an example of ” glorious tenure of BJP’s double engine govt”, marked by zero tolerance to crime against women. “There is no place for criminals in Rajasthan,” Sharma said.