Full Breakdown
Death Sentence Handed to Migrant Labourer for Rape-Murder of Five-Year-Old in Punjab
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A fast-track special court in Hoshiarpur sentenced Nanke Yadav, also known as Radhe Sham, a 33-year-old migrant labourer from Gonda district, Uttar Pradesh, to death for abducting, sexually assaulting and murdering a five-year-old boy. Additional Sessions Judge Manpreet Kaur classified the case as “rarest of rare” and ordered the death penalty under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The sentence will take effect only after confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Background & Context
The incident occurred when the child disappeared while playing near his home in New Deep Nagar, Hoshiarpur. Police recovered the body the following morning from a cremation-ground vicinity. The case sparked widespread outrage in the district, prompting local residents to demand the harshest punishment. The court’s decision was delivered a day before the statutory deadline prescribed by Section 35 of the POCSO Act, which obliges special courts to complete trials within a year of taking cognizance.
Legal Findings & Sentencing Details
Beyond the death penalty, the court imposed concurrent terms of imprisonment:
- 10 years rigorous imprisonment (Section 140(1) BNS)
- 7 years (Section 238 BNS)
- 20 years (Section 6 POCSO)
- 5 years (Section 10 POCSO)
A fine of Rs 5,000 was levied under each provision, and the court awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation to the parents under the Punjab Victim or Their Dependents Compensation Scheme, 2011. The convicted individual was informed of a 30-day window to appeal the judgment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the year the child went missing. One report states the abduction took place on September 9, 2023, while another places it on September 9, 2025. Correspondingly, the filing of the FIR is reported on September 10, 2025 in the latter account. The sentencing date is consistently given as September 18, with the conviction recorded on September 15, 2026. No source clarifies the reason for the year discrepancy.
Impact & Next Steps
The death sentence underscores the judiciary’s willingness to apply the “rarest of rare” standard in heinous child-rape cases. Confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court remains pending, and the convicted party retains the right to appeal within 30 days. The case has also reignited local debates over migrant labourer presence in the area, though the court explicitly separated those community concerns from its criminal determination.