Goraya man gets death for rape, murder

A 31-year-old man from Goraya, Gurpreet, alias Gopi, has been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl, four years after committing the crime. The verdict was delivered by Additional Session Judge Archana Kamboj in a fast-track court in Jalandhar.

In February 2021, the young victim went missing from outside her home in Goraya, and her body was later found in Gurpreet’s house, a neighbour of the victim’s family. The police investigation revealed that the minor was kidnapped, raped multiple times, and suffered fatal head injuries. The accused attempted to dispose of the body, but it was discovered during a search by the family and villagers.

Gurpreet was arrested and charged under various sections of the IPC, including murder, kidnapping, rape, and destruction of evidence, as well as the POCSO Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault.