A court in Korba, Chhattisgarh, has sentenced five men to death for a horrifying crime that shocked the entire country. These men were found guilty of gang-raping and murdering a 16-year-old girl, as well as brutally killing her father and younger sister. The crime happened on January 29, 2021. The court described the act as "extremely depraved, disgusting, bestial, and cowardly," saying it deeply affected society's sense of justice.

The convicts—Santram Manjhwar, Abdul Jabbar, Anil Kumar Sarthi, Pardeshi Ram, and Anand Ram Panika—were found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 302 (murder) and 376(2)(G) (gang rape). They were also charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A sixth accused, Umashankar Yadav, received a life sentence due to medical reasons that affected his ability to participate in the crime.

Details of the crime

The horrific incident began when the victims—a father, his 16-year-old daughter, and her three-and-a-half-year-old niece—were offered a lift by Manjhwar, who had employed the father as a daily wage worker. After stopping for liquor at Korai village, Manjhwar and his accomplices took the family to a remote area near Gadhuproda village.In this secluded location, the men gangraped the girl in front of her father. When he attempted to intervene, they brutally killed him with stones. The young girl was also attacked with stones before being left for dead in the forest. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being discovered alive by police days later.

Court proceedings

The Fast Track Special Court gave its decision on January 15, 2025. Additional Sessions Judge Dr. Mamta Bhojwani said that such cruel acts need the strictest punishment. She explained: "This court has no other option left except choosing the exception of the death penalty rather than the general rule of life imprisonment."

The judge also said that if these men were allowed back into society, they might commit more crimes. The court's judgement shows rising concern about violence against women in India.

Reactions from authorities

Sunil Kumar Mishra, the special public prosecutor in the case, agreed with the court’s views while speaking about the verdict. He said the crime "has hurt the collective conscience of the entire society."

The judge's decision was based on strong evidence showing that Manjhwar had been forcing the teenage girl to become his second wife. When she and her family refused, he planned the cruel attack and murder of the girl and her family.

Community impact

The victims were part of the Pahadi Korwa tribal community, a group recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). This case has caused anger and protests, not just in Chhattisgarh but across the entire country. People were deeply upset by the shocking nature of this crime, which has highlighted the ongoing issue of violence against women.

The court said that this terrible act had shaken humanity and stressed that justice must take into account both the pain of the victims and the expectations of society. This decision is seen as an important step in dealing with such brutal crimes against women in India.