Hitu Sheikh to walk to gallows in child rape-murder case in Magura, 3 acquitted

A court here today convicted and sentenced prime accused Hitu Sheikh to death, but acquitted three others in a sensational case lodged over the rape and subsequently murder of an eight-year-old girl in the district in March.

Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal pronounced the judgment in presence of the accused.

After concluding the arguments of the defence and prosecution on May 13, the court set today (May 17) for the judgment.

The child was rapped on March 6 last by Hitu Sheikh, father-in-law of the child's elder sister, when she was visiting their house. She succumbed to death on March 13 due to severe injuries.

She was initially admitted to Magura Sadar Hospital in critical condition and was later transferred to Dhaka's Combined Military Hospital, where she died on March 13.

Following the incident, the victim's mother filed the case with Magura Sadar Police Station on March 8 under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

After investigation, police submitted the charge sheet against four persons on April 13. The court on April 23 framed charges against them.

"The judgment was expected as the accused gave statement under section 164, and the witnesses too gave the same testimonies. We received justice," special public prosecutor Ehsanul Haque Samaji told newsmen after the judgment.