Agra village watchman gets death sentence for rape, murder of 7-year-old girl

In a significant ruling, the Agra POCSO court sentenced Rajveer Singh to death for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Etmadpur. The incident occurred on December 30, 2023, when the girl was playing outside her home. Rajveer, who was the village watchman, lured her to a secluded area where he committed the crime.
After the attack, the accused attempted to kill the girl by drowning her. When that failed, he brutally struck her on the head with a stone, leading to her death from severe injuries. He then disposed of her body in a nearby field and fled the scene.
The case came to light when local residents reported the missing girl, and her body was later found. A thorough investigation led by Agra’s ACP Sukanya Sharma resulted in compelling evidence against Rajveer, including DNA matches from forensic analysis of hair found at the crime scene, witness statements, and CCTV footage showing him with the girl.
During the trial, more than a dozen witnesses testified against Rajveer. Sonika Chaudhary, Special Judge of POCSO court, upon reviewing the evidence, delivered the verdict and imposed a fine of Rs 1.25 lakh in addition to the death sentence.
The victim’s father was present in court during the sentencing and expressed gratitude towards the judiciary for delivering justice. The accused’s family were not present in court during the hearing nor did they ever visit him when he was lodged in jail.
Senior advocate M Qureshi noted the importance of the ruling while emphasising the need for stronger measures to ensure that those guilty of such heinous crimes face appropriate punishment.
Vishal Sharma, Vice Chairman of Hindustani Biradari, echoed this sentiment, stating that while the death penalty can serve as a deterrent, systemic issues still allow some offenders to evade severe consequences.