Chandigarh, June 10: The Pathankot Court, which convicted six out of seven accused in the horrific Kathua rape and murder case, will announce the quantum of punishment shortly. The sentence was expected to be delivered after 4pm. The prosecution has sought a death penalty for the three convicts, who have been held guilty of sexually assaulting the eight-year-old deceased and brutally killing her.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has appealed the court to set an example by handing the strictest penalty to all the convicts. "I request them to give harshest punishment and hang them to set example for others because cases against minors are increasing and it would set an example," said NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma.

The girl was kidnapped on January 10 last year and was allegedly gangraped in captivity in a small village temple in Kathua after having been kept sedated for four days. She was later bludgeoned to death.

The incident led to a country-wide outcry and the trial was held on day-to-day basis at the district and sessions court in Pathankot.

Earlier today, the court announced its verdict, sentencing six among the accused, including police officials.

Sanji Ram, the caretaker of the temple where the crime took place, Special Police Officer Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar, a civilian, have been convicted under Ranbir Penal Code sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, murder, gangrape and destruction of evidence, the lawyers said.

Two police officials -- Sub Inspector Anand Dutta and Head Constable Tilak Raj --and a special police officer Surender Verma have been convicted for destruction of evidence.

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 10, 2019 03:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).