A MAN who kidnapped, raped and then murdered a two-year-old girl is to be executed, a court has ruled. India’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence against Ravi Ghumare, 32, for the brutal five hour attack on the toddler, which it said was carried out as a result of his “sexual hunger”. The murder […]
A MAN who kidnapped, raped and then murdered a two-year-old girl is to be executed, a court has ruled.
India’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence against Ravi Ghumare, 32, for the brutal five hour attack on the toddler, which it said was carried out as a result of his “sexual hunger”.
The murder took place in March 2012 in the city of Jalna, a city in Maharashtra province, 250 miles east of Mumbai.
The alarming increase in sexual offences against young girls has been declared a “national emergency in India” with the public demanding action and the death sentence for perpetrators.
Ruling that Ghumare should hang for the attack, the court recounted what happened.
The little girl’s parents were fruit sellers who on the day of the tragedy had been hard at work, the Times of India reports.
About 5pm, the girl’s mother noticed her child missing and so her father and uncle immediately began frantically searching for her.
They were told that Ghumare had been seen drunk, giving chocolates away to children in the road where he lived.
The girl’s father went to the police who raided Ghumare’s house, breaking down the locked door to get in.
He was found inside and the girl was lying unconscious with multiple injuries. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was declared dead by doctors.
“It may be seen that the victim was barely a two-year-old baby whom the appellant kidnapped and apparently kept on assaulting over 4-5 hours till she breathed her last,” the court’s judgement read.
“(He) had no control over his carnal desires, surpassed all natural, social and legal limits just to satiate his sexual hunger. He ruthlessly finished a life which was yet to bloom.”
The decision to uphold the death sentence was made on a 2-1 majority and the judges who voted for it said Ghumare “meticulously” carried out the crime.
“The unnatural sex with a two-year old toddler exhibits a dirty and perverted mind, showcasing a horrifying tale of brutality,” they said.
“The appellant was thus in his full senses while he indulged in this senseless act.”
Indian government figures show 18,862 cases of child sex attacks were registered in 2016, or more than 50 each day.
That amounted to nearly half of the total 40,000 cases of rape of children and adults reported that year, up from 25,000 in 2012.
The death of eight-year-old Asifa Bano in January 2018 in particular sparked nationwide protests. Six men were convicted for the rape and murder of the eight-year-old.
Campaigners say traditional views on the role of women, the rise of social media, as well as class and religious conflict could all be contributing to the horrific wave of attacks.
It is believed there are almost 400 Indians on death row but only four have been executed in 13 years – all but one for terrorism offences.
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