SILIGURI, : Mohammad Abbas, 22, has been convicted by a Siliguri court for
rape and murder of a 17-year-old schoolgirl. The sentencing, initially
scheduled for today, has been postponed to Saturday after the court needed more
time to review arguments and petitions presented.
Abbas was accused of kidnapping the girl while she was
returning home from school in Siliguri’s Matigara area, taking her to an
abandoned house and killing her by bludgeoning her with a stone after she
resisted his attempt to sexually assault her. The incident took place in
September 2023. He was arrested within seven hours of the crime.
Public prosecutor Vivash Chatterjee explained that the
delay in sentencing was necessary due to extensive arguments and petitions
presented in court. “The learned judge needs to study the materials before
announcing the final punishment, hence the extension by a day,” Chatterjee
said.
Abbas has pleaded for leniency, citing that this was his
first offense and that he has a young daughter and a dependent mother.
The prosecution is pushing for capital punishment.
Chatterjee stated, “We are fighting for justice and demanding capital
punishment. We are hopeful the court will deliver that verdict on Saturday.”
The final judgment is expected to be pronounced after 3
pm, with the public, including the victim’s family, demanding the harshest
penalty for the crime.
