The other pieces of evidence comprised the accounts of witnesses and scientific tests. The victim’s sister testified about Mukarram’s prior misconduct. Polygraph tests were conducted, though narco-analysis was ruled out due to his speech impairment.
Published Aug 15, 2025 | 2:30 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 15, 2025 | 2:30 PM
Representational image.
Synopsis: Mohammed Mukkaram was awarded the death sentence on Thursday, 14 August, after the court found him guilty of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl.
The 2013 rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Nalgonda — a case that culminated in the accused getting a death sentence — stands as a grim reminder of brutality but also a testament to how meticulous investigation can ensure justice.
Fast-track POCSO cases court judge in Nalgonda, N Rojaramani, on Thursday, 14 August, awarded death penalty to Mohammed Mukarram, a local butcher, relying on irrefutable evidence painstakingly gathered by police. The investigation, spanning forensic science, eyewitness accounts, and the killer’s confession, left no room for doubt.
On 28 April 2013, the girl left her home in Nalgonda’s Manyamchelka area, telling her family she was visiting a friend. When she didn’t return, her father filed a missing complaint. The next day, her body was found in a canal, bearing signs of sexual assault and strangulation.
The police added sections 302 and 201 IPC to the case, and launched a manhunt.
Mukarram, then 24, emerged as the prime suspect after the victim’s elder sister disclosed he had previously molested both her and the deceased. Locals (LW-17 and LW-18) corroborated his history of harassing young girls, painting him as a habitual predator.
On 2 May 2013, police apprehended Mukarram near a bus stop. In the presence of mediators, he confessed to luring the girl to his home under the guise of buying tea, and committed the crime.
The postmortem report confirmed sexual assault and death by asphyxiation. Forensic reports from APFSL, Hyderabad, matched bloodstains from Mukarram’s house to the victim and linked his DNA to her clothing. A potency test confirmed he was physically capable of the crime.
The other pieces of evidence comprised the accounts of witnesses and scientific tests. The victim’s sister (LW-3) testified about Mukarram’s prior misconduct. Polygraph tests were conducted, though narco-analysis was ruled out due to his speech impairment.
The police, led by then-SDPO P Vijaya Kumar, filed a chargesheet under Sections 376-A (rape causing death), 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) IPC, and the POCSO Act. The evidence—ranging from forensic proof to Mukarram’s confession—was so overwhelming that the court had no hesitation in imposing the death penalty.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
