Aluva child rape: 'No mercy' for Ashfaq Alam as court awards him death penalty

The Ernakulam POCSO court on Tuesday awarded the death penalty to Ashfaq Alam (28) who kidnapped, raped and murdered a five-year-old girl in Aluva. The incident related to the case that had shaken the conscience of Kerala happened on July 28.

Judge K. Soman, who presided over the trial, started the procedures of pronouncement of the verdict on November 14 at 11 am. Kerala Police finished the investigation and filed the chargesheet within 30 days of the crime.

Alam was slapped with several IPC sections including 302 (murder), 376 2(j) (rape of minor girl), 366A (procuration of minor girl) and 364 (kidnapping with the intent to murder). The migrant labourer from Bihar was also charged under the POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice Act.

The trial, which started on October 4 was completed in just 26 days. The child was the daughter of a migrant couple from Bihar. Her body was found wrapped in a sack at a marshy area behind the Aluva market on July 29. As many as 41 witnesses were examined in the case and the court found Alam guilty of 13 charges.

The prosecution demanded maximum punishment for the convict. The deceased girl's parents also sought capital punishment ahead of the sentencing.

The capital punishment was announced in the case under the IPC 302 section while under the POCSO Act sections, Alam was awarded life sentences. While announcing the verdict, the court announced that Alam does not deserve any mercy.