Court sentences 3 convicts to life term in 2022 Hanskhali gangrape-murder case

The Ranaghat Additional District Judge (ADJ) Court on Tuesday pronounced the quantum of punishment in the 2022 Hanskhali minor gang rape and murder case. The court awarded life imprisonment until death to three primary convicts: Brajgopal Goali (alias Sohel Goali), Ranjit Mallick, and Prabhakar Poddar. These three were identified as the main perpetrators who gang-raped the 14-year-old girl during a birthday party, leading to her tragic death due to excessive bleeding.

The case, which had sparked a massive political storm in West Bengal, also saw the conviction of the prime suspect’s father, local TMC leader Samarendra Goali. The court sentenced him to five years in prison for his role in criminal conspiracy, threatening the victim's family, and aiding in the destruction of evidence. It was established during the CBI investigation that the body was forcibly cremated without a death certificate or post-mortem to cover up the crime.

Regarding the other accused, the court adopted a varied approach based on their age and involvement at the time of the crime. One individual, who was a minor when the incident occurred in 2022, has been granted bail but will remain under strict court monitoring for the next year. Two other minors involved in the case were ordered to be released after paying a fine of ₹50,000 each. The remaining adults received sentences ranging from conspiracy to tampering with evidence.