Gang rape case: One gets death among 3 convicted

TIRUNELVELI: The Tirunelveli Special Pocso Court on Tuesday convicted three persons, sentencing one of them to death, in a case involving the abduction and gang rape of a Class 12 student after one of the convicts lured her with false promises.

Judge Suresh Kumar awarded the death penalty to Chinnakutty, 20 years’ imprisonment to Murugesh and 13 years’ imprisonment to Muneeswaran.

According to the prosecution, the victim, a 16-year-old girl from Tirunelveli, was studying in Class 12 at a school in the town in October 2022.

During this period, Muneeswaran of Vilathikulam, who had come to a church in the town for painting work, became acquainted with the girl.

He had concealed from the victim that he was already married and subsequently developed a phone conversation with her that lasted for nearly two weeks.

On the day of the incident, Muneeswaran told the girl that he would take her to his sister’s house, luring her with a false promise of marriage.

Believing him, the girl accompanied him on his motorcycle. He took her to an isolated area and sexually assaulted her, according to the police.

His friends, Chinnakutty (27) and Murugesan (27), both from the Kokkirakulam and Keezh Veeraraghavapuram areas, were also present at the spot and allegedly sexually assaulted the girl.

“The three had conspired to bring the girl to the isolated place and rape her,” said a police source, adding that Chinnakutty had repeatedly raped her.

Based on a complaint, the Palayamkottai All-Women Police registered a case and arrested all three accused. Chinnakutty was already facing murder cases, according to the police.

The trial was conducted before the Tirunelveli Special Pocso Court. Judge Suresh Kumar found Muneeswaran, Chinnakutty and Murugesan guilty.

Following the verdict, armed police personnel escorted the three convicts to the prisoners’ waiting room at the court complex, where they were kept under tight security.