Mangaluru: High Court confirms death sentence for three in brutal minor gang-rape and murder case
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, Feb 10, 2026: The Karnataka High Court has upheld the death sentence for three convicts involved in the brutal gang rape and murder of a minor girl at a tile factory in Ulaibettu, Vamanjoor. The bench clarified that reducing the sentence would encourage such heinous crimes and send the wrong message to society.
Case Background and Verdict
The High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the convicts—Jaiban Adivasi and Mukesh Singh from Madhya Pradesh, and Manish Tirkey from Jharkhand—who sought to overturn their conviction. Simultaneously, the court accepted the state government’s petition to confirm the capital punishment previously awarded by the trial court.
The bench noted:
* The act was not just a crime but a "shock to the collective conscience of society."
* The perpetrators showed no regard for the victim’s life as they took turns committing the assault.
* Given the brutality, the death penalty is the only appropriate punishment.
Details of the Atrocity
The victim was a 7 to 8-year-old girl who lived at the factory where her mother worked as a laborer. According to the court:
* The child trusted the accused, who exploited that trust by luring her away under the pretext of buying her snacks.
* Medical reports confirmed severe internal injuries and heavy bleeding.
* The incident occurred on November 21, 2021. Manish Tirkey took her to a room for a sexual assault, followed by the other two.
* To destroy evidence, they strangled the girl to death and dumped her body in a drain.
Legal Journey
Following a complaint by the victim’s mother, the police utilized CCTV footage and FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) reports to build a strong case. The trial court originally found them guilty, sentencing them to death along with a fine of ₹40,000 each.
The High Court has now fully ratified this decision, emphasizing that the gravity of the crime outweighs any plea for leniency.