The trial court in Muzaffarnagar has convicted two men in a case of gang rape of a muslim woman during the September 2013 communal riots in Western U.P. They have been convicted under section 376(2)(g), 376-D and 506 IPC. This comes on the heels of the victim approaching the Hon’ble Supreme Court praying for expeditious disposal of the trial which had from the inception witnessed partisian investigation and deliberate and protracted delay meant to exhaust the victim.
In this Sessions Trial, ST Case No 113/2015 the court has sentenced the convicts to rigorous Imprisonment of 20 years u/Sec 376-D IPC with fine of Rs 10000/-, to rigorous imprisonment of 10 years u/Sec 376(2)(g) IPC with compensation of Rs 5000/-, and rigorous imprisonment for 2 years u/Sec 506(2) IPC.
This is probably the first case of conviction under 376(2)(g) IPC pursuant to as the 2013 Criminal Law Amendment, which recognised rape during communal violence as a specific offence. Before this there were convictions in the Naroda Patiya case of multiple rapes in connection with the Gujarat 2002 carnage. Lone live victim survivor Ms Zarina was awarded Rs 5 lakh in compensation.
The victim in the Muzaffarnagar case was represented by Advocates: Ms Vrinda Grover, Ms Ratna Appnender, Ms Devika Tulsiani, Mr Soutik Banerjee and Ms Mannat Tipnis and supported by many activists.