New Delhi, June 10: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has appealed the Jammu & Kashmir government to challenge the Pathankot Court's verdict in the Kathua rape and murder case. The womens' body said the convicts should be penalised with death, instead of handing them a life-imprisonment term.

"Was expecting capital punishment for Kathua rape and murder criminals. Jammu and Kashmir government must go for appeal in higher court," said NCW chief Rekha Sharma. Kathua Rape-Murder Case: 3 Convicts Awarded Life Imprisonment, 3 Others Get 5-Year Jail Term

The District and Sessions Court in Pathankot, earlier in the day, announced the verdict in the case of gangrape and murder of the 8-year-old girl in J&K's Kathua. The bench found six of the seven accused guilty. The sole accused acquitted is Vishal, the son of priest Sanjhi Ram who used the temple premises for raping the girl.

The three awarded with life-imprisonment terms are Sanji Ram, the caretaker of the temple where the crime took place, Special Police Officer Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar, a civilian.

The trio were booked under Ranbir Penal Code sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, murder, gangrape and destruction of evidence, the lawyers said.

Meanwhile, three other convicts - Sub Inspector Anand Dutta, Head Constable Tilak Raj and Special Police Officer Surendra Verma - have been handed five-year jail term each after being convicted of destroying evidence.

The horrific rape-murder case dates back to 2018, when the minor belonging to the nomadic Bakarwal community was kidnapped on January 10 last year and gangraped for seven days. She was kept sedated throughout and finally bludgeoned to death.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 10, 2019 06:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).