A court in West Bengal on Tuesday sentenced three convicts to life imprisonment in connection with the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl who later died in 2022 in Hanskhali, Nadia district. The sentence was pronounced by the additional district judge court in Ranaghat.
Brajagopal Goali, Prabhakar Poddar, and Ranjit Mallick were found guilty of gang rape, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Samarendra Goali, father of prime accused Brajagopal, was sentenced to five years in prison.
One of the convicts, who was a minor at the time of the crime, was released on a bond of ₹50,000 with a condition to maintain good conduct for one year. The defence has said the verdict will be challenged in a higher court. The remaining accused were given lesser prison terms for criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and criminal intimidation.
The crime occurred on April 4, 2022, when the girl was gang-raped during a birthday party for the son of a local panchayat leader affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress. She fell ill after the assault and died the following day. Her body was cremated in haste, allegedly under pressure from the accused.
Her body was cremated in haste, allegedly under pressure from the accused, triggering widespread public outrage and allegations of a cover-up.
Following petitions citing concerns over the fairness of the investigation due to the alleged involvement of a ruling party leader&rsquo;s son, the Calcutta High Court transferred the probe from the state police to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The case had led to political controversy in the state and drew national attention over the handling of crimes against minors and alleged abuse of power.

3 convicts get life imprisonment in rape-murder of girl in Bengal's Hanskhali

Ranaghat court sentences three to life in 2022 gang rape, minor’s death case

Hanskhali rape-murder: 3 convicts get life

Ranaghat court sentences three to life in 2022 gang rape, minor’s death case

December 24, 2025 | 24:45 IST