The seven accused who were convicted and awarded capital punishment in the rape and murder of Nepelese woman, in police custody after the court verdict in Rohtak on Monday. December 21, 2015: Express Photo The seven accused who were convicted and awarded capital punishment in the rape and murder of Nepelese woman, in police custody after the court verdict in Rohtak on Monday. December 21, 2015: Express Photo

The Rohtak sessions court on Monday awarded death penalty to all the seven men convicted in the gangrape and murder of a 28-year-old Nepalese woman. The victim was abducted, gangraped and battered to death, and her body was dumped on the Rohtak-Hisar national highway on February 4 this year.

The victim had come from Nepal to Rohtak in December last year for treatment of depression. She was living with her elder sister in Rohtak when she was abducted by the accused on February 1.

The seven accused were convicted on December 18. The arguments on the quantum of sentence were heard today, after which Additional District Judge Seema Singal awarded the maximum punishment.

The seven convicts are Rajesh, Sunil aka Seela, Sarvar aka Billu, Manbir, Sunil aka Madha, Pawan and Pramod aka Padam. The eighth accused, a juvenile, is facing trial in the juvenile court. Another accused, Sombir, who was also allegedly involved in the crime, committed suicide in New Delhi soon after the others were arrested.

The seven convicts are all residents of Gaddi Kheri village in Rohtak district.

The court said the convicts were awarded death sentence on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy, life imprisonment on charges of rape read with criminal conspiracy, and 10 years imprisonment on charges of abduction read with criminal conspiracy.

“All the sentences will run concurrently and the maximum punishment shall prevail,” said Deepak Bhardwaj, counsel for the defendants.

Bhardwaj said they would challenge the verdict in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “In my opinion, it is the decision of the court, but it is not justice. The entire case was based on circumstantial evidence. If the victim has the right to seek justice in court, even the accused has the same right. We will challenge the verdict in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.”

The autopsy report had elaborated the brutal manner in which the victim was gangraped and then killed.

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