Accused in 6-yr-old's rape & murder acquitted; family breaks down
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Kattappana/Kerala: In a case of brutal rape and murder of a minor- six-year-old- in Kerala, a fast-track POCSO court in here acquitted the accused. Even after the prosecution produced 48 witnesses and examined more than 69 documents, the court just said the accused was acquitted and said nothing more, The Newsminute reports.
Post the judgement, counsel for the accused appeared before the media, alleging that the police fabricated the case against his client. The counsel said that there was no scientific evidence against his client and added that the real culprit must be caught, demanding a re-investigation.
It was in June 2021 that the child was found dead. Residents of the Idukki districts, the child's parents were labourers, and when she was attacked, she was alone at home. The child's elder brother, who reached home that day afternoon, discovered her body. Police arrived, and the body was taken to Idukki Medical College, where she was declared sexually assaulted and strangulated later.
Arjun, a DYFI activist, was arrested in July that year.
After the child was reported sexually assaulted, a strand of hair from her body was confirmed as belonging to Arjun. Also, during the initial investigation, Arjun stated that he saw the child two days before her death.
The child's family is convinced that the acquitted Arjun is the culprit. The child's mother alleged that Arjun must have paid in Lakhs to save himself from the case.
