West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her approval on Friday after a POCSO court in Baruipur sentenced Mostakin Sardar to death for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Joynagar, South 24 Parganas. The court’s decision came just 62 days after the crime, which Banerjee described as “unprecedented” in the state’s judicial history.
conviction and capital punishment in such a case in just over two months is remarkable
Taking to social media platform X, Banerjee commended the state police and the prosecution team for their swift action, stating, “Conviction and capital punishment in such a case in just over two months is remarkable. The government has zero tolerance towards offences against women and will ensure justice is neither delayed nor denied.”
The tragic incident occurred on October 4, when the Class IV student went missing while returning from tuition classes. Her body was discovered the following day near a police outpost in Kultali, igniting public outrage and protests over alleged police inaction. Mostakin Sardar, the sole accused, was arrested shortly after the discovery of the body.
The case garnered national attention, prompting the child’s parents to petition the Calcutta High Court for a magisterial autopsy, which was conducted at Kalyani JNM Hospital by doctors from AIIMS. In response to the public outcry, the West Bengal government established a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expedite the investigation. Banerjee set a three-month deadline for the police to resolve the case, emphasizing that “a criminal has no identity” and calling for immediate action.
This incident occurred less than two months after the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a case currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The opposition parties have criticized the Trinamool Congress government, alleging a failure to effectively curb crimes against women in the state.
The swift verdict in the Joynagar case has been hailed by Banerjee as a significant step towards ensuring justice for victims of sexual violence, reinforcing the government’s commitment to women’s safety in West Bengal.
