Mangaluru: Death sentence for 58-year-old man in minor’s rape and murder case

Mangaluru: Death sentence for 58-year-old man in minor’s rape and murder case

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 13, 2025: The Additional District and Sessions Court, FTFTC-2 (POCSO), on Friday sentenced a man to death for sexually assaulting and brutally murdering a minor girl.

The convict has been identified as Fakirappa Hanumappa Madar (58), a resident of Hanchinal village, Savadatti taluk, Belagavi district.

The victim, originally from Chunchanur village in Belagavi, was studying in Class 9 at Morarji Desai Residential School, Konaje. Her mother had left her at her maternal uncle’s house, asking them to drop her to school later.

On August 6, 2024, when the girl’s uncle had gone out for work and his wife was away in the village, Fakirappa, who lived in a rented house nearby, confirmed the girl was alone. He unlawfully entered the house, sexually assaulted her, bit her face, and then strangled her with a cloth before fleeing. Panambur police registered the case and later arrested him.

After trial, Judge K.S. Manu awarded the following punishments:

* Death penalty under BNS Section 103(1) (murder).

* Life imprisonment and ₹50,000 fine under POCSO Section 4(2), with four months’ simple imprisonment in case of default.

* Life imprisonment and ₹5,000 fine under BNS Section 332(a) (trespass), with four months’ simple imprisonment in case of default.

* The court also directed that the victim’s parents receive ₹5 lakh compensation — ₹1 lakh from the fine amount and ₹4 lakh from the District Legal Services Authority.

Evidence presented:

A neighbour testified that the day before the incident, the girl had used her phone to call her mother, complaining of fever. The next day, when the neighbour and another woman entered the house to give her the phone, they saw Fakirappa inside. Both later deposed as eyewitnesses.

Forensic tests confirmed that the blood found on the accused’s clothes matched the victim’s blood.

Bite marks on the victim’s face matched the dental impression of the accused.

In total, 38 documents and the statements of two eyewitnesses and 16 circumstantial witnesses were presented, along with forensic reports, leading to the conviction.

The case was investigated by Panambur Inspector Muhammad Saleem Abbas, while Special Public Prosecutor Sahana Devi Boluru argued on behalf of the government.