7 Bangladeshis get life term in India

A special court in India’s Bengaluru has sentenced seven Bangladeshi immigrants to life terms in a sexual assault case that took place in May last year.

The fast-track court on Friday also handed down jail terms of five and 20 years, respectively, to two others after holding them guilty of the crime, reports UNB.

However, two more men chargesheeted by police in the gang-rape case were absolved of the serious charge and instead convicted of various offences under the Foreigners’ Act and sentenced to nine months in prison.

“One accused has, however, been acquitted as he turned an approver in the case. Eleven of the 12 chargesheeted in the case as well as the rape survivor are illegal Bangladeshi immigrants,” a lawyer told the local media.

In fact, Indian authorities swung into action after a video of the heinous crime went viral on social media last year. Subsequently, a massive manhunt by Bengaluru Police led to the arrest of the 12 men. Interrogation of the arrestees also helped investigators unearth a cross-border human trafficking racket in the city.

Eleven, out of the 12 arrested and charge-sheeted, as well as the victim were Bangladeshi nationals who had entered India and lived in Bengaluru illegally. And another arrestee is an Indian who was acquitted as he turned into an approver in the case. The charge sheet in the case was filed within 28 days of the crime and the trial was completed in three months.

The incident came to light after a video of the rape first went viral in Bangladesh and was then found to have been committed in Bengaluru.