Mangaluru: The additional district and sessions court-FTSC-II (Pocso) judge Maanu KS on Friday awarded death penalty to an accused in the case of a minor girl’s brutal assault, sexual abuse, and murder.The court found Fakeerappa Hanamappa Madara,58, a resident of Hanchinala village in Savadatti taluk, guilty. The victim, a Class 9 student of a residential school, was staying in a relative’s house in the district. On Aug 6, 2024, the girl was alone at home as her uncle went out for work and his wife was in her hometown. Around 9 am, the accused, Madara, who was staying in a nearby rented house, sneaked into the house, raped the girl and injured her by biting her face off. Later, he strangled her to death. He then fled the spot.Panambur police registered a case and consequently arrested him. Judge Maanu KS found Madara guilty. The accused is sentenced to the death penalty for the offence punishable under Section 103(1) of the BNS. The accused was also sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 under Section 4(2) of the Pocso Act, read with Section 65 of the BNS. He was further sentenced to undergo life imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 50,000 under Section 332(a) of the BNS.The court directed that Rs 1 lakh be paid to the parents of the deceased as compensation. Further, the district legal services authority/ the state govt have been directed to pay additional compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the parents.Panambur police inspector Mohammed Salim Abbas conducted the investigation and filed a chargesheet. Special public prosecutor Sahana Devi Boloor argued on behalf of the prosecution.
