A Special POCSO Court in Bulandshahr has handed down life imprisonment to five convicts for the 2016 gang-rape of a woman and her minor daughter. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.81 lakh on each convict, with half the amount designated as compensation for the victims. The convicts, including Juber, Sajid, Dharamvir, Naresh, and Sunil Kumar, were found guilty of the heinous crimes.
The incident occurred on the night of July 29, 2016, when a family of six was attacked while traveling from Noida to Shahjahanpur on National Highway 91. Armed assailants punctured their car tires with a metal axle, leading them to stop near Dostpur village. The men were tied up and beaten at gunpoint, while the woman and her 14-year-old daughter were subjected to hours of sexual assault and dacoity in the nearby fields.
Initially handled by the Uttar Pradesh Police, the case was later taken over by the CBI following a directive from the Allahabad High Court on August 12, 2016. The CBI’s investigation led to the filing of charge-sheets against the accused. One of the accused passed away during the nine-year trial period. The case drew national attention not just for its brutality but also due to controversial remarks made by then-U.P. Minister Azam Khan, which were later retracted following a Supreme Court apology.
