Palghar: The District and Additional Sessions Court in Palghar on Friday sentenced a 46-year-old man to death for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in a tribal hamlet of Dahanu on Sept 27, 2021. Judge A R Rahane also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.The victim, then aged nine years and eight months, had been sent by her mother to fetch supplies from a neighbourhood shop. According to the prosecution, the accused identified as Pramul, also known as Praful or Pramade Ratna Ghose, who lived nearby lured the child into his house, showed her obscene images on his mobile phone and sexually assaulted her.Following the assault, the girl began crying in pain. The accused offered her Rs 10 to buy snacks, but she insisted she would tell her family about the incident and attempted to run away. The accused allegedly grabbed a sickle from his house, chased the girl down and struck her repeatedly on the head, neck and face, inflicting around 15 fatal blows. A 40-year-old villager who tried to intervene was also attacked and seriously injured by the accused, who then allegedly attempted to destroy evidence at the scene.The court took grave note of the brutality of the crime and the lack of remorse shown by the accused, who reportedly displayed no contrition even after the sentence was pronounced.The case was investigated by then Assistant Superintendent of Police Nityanand Jha. Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Rekha Ivarale represented the state.Officials said this is perhaps the first instance in Palghar district where the death penalty has been imposed in a POCSO case involving such a brutal murder.
