NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday praised a POCSO court in Baruipur for awarding the death penalty to Mostakin Sardar, convicted of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Joynagar, South 24 Parganas. The verdict came just 62 days after the crime, a pace Banerjee described as “unprecedented” in the state’s history.
Taking to X, Banerjee lauded the state police and prosecution team, stating, “Conviction and capital punishment in such a case in just over two months is remarkable. The government has zero tolerance towards offences against women and will ensure justice is neither delayed nor denied.”
The crime
The Class IV student went missing on October 4 while returning from tuition classes. Her body was discovered the next day near a police outpost in Kultali, sparking public outrage. The sole accused, Mostakin Sardar, was arrested shortly after.
The case gained national attention, with protests erupting over alleged police inaction. The child’s parents had to petition the Calcutta High Court for a magisterial autopsy, which was conducted at Kalyani JNM Hospital by AIIMS doctors.
Special investigation team steps in
Responding to public anger, the state government formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expedite the probe. Banerjee also set a three-month deadline for the police to resolve the case, emphasizing that “a criminal has no identity” and urging immediate action.
Broader context of women’s safety in Bengal
The incident occurred less than two months after the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a case currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Opposition parties criticized the Trinamool Congress government, alleging a failure to curb crimes against women.