KOCHI: The decision of a Kerala court on Tuesday to impose the death penalty by hanging on a migrant worker from Bihar, Asafaq Alam (28), convicted of the brutal rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Aluva, was met with widespread approval in the state.
People celebrated the verdict by distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers outside the special court in large numbers. The parents of the victim expressed gratitude to the court, police, prosecution, and the people of Kerala for their support in securing justice for their daughter.
The public hailed the punishment as a strong message against violence towards children, and many women stated that the verdict strengthened their faith in the system, making them feel more secure in allowing their children to play. Eyewitnesses in the case, including a local trade union worker, distributed sweets to mark the occasion.
Political leaders, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, welcomed the court's decision. Chief Minister Vijayan emphasized that the verdict, delivered on Children's Day, serves as a stern warning to those who commit violence against children. The opposition leader stated that the historic verdict showed that the criminal deserved no leniency.
Law Minister P Rajeev highlighted the government's commitment to women and children in Kerala, noting the speed with which the investigation and trial were conducted. Health Minister Veena George also praised the verdict, emphasizing its significance in sending a strong message against harming children.
In addition to the death penalty, the court sentenced Alam to five life terms for various offenses under the IPC and the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was also given varying jail terms for offenses such as kidnapping, procuration of a minor girl, causing hurt, and destruction of evidence under the IPC. The court imposed a fine of Rs 7.3 lakh on the convict.
The execution of the death sentence is subject to confirmation by the Kerala High Court, and it will be carried out once Alam exhausts all legal appeals against the verdict. The court's decision was seen as a significant step toward justice for the heinous crime committed on July 28, where the minor girl was brutally raped and strangled after being abducted from her rented house in Aluva.
(With agency inputs)
