The Nirbhaya Gang Rape and Murder (2012, Delhi): The 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman, later known as "Nirbhaya," in Delhi stands as one of the most brutal crimes in Indian history. She endured a horrific assault, including gang rape and being brutalized with iron rods, before being abandoned from a moving bus. The swift investigation by the Delhi Police led to the arrest of all six perpetrators within days. This heinous act ignited nationwide protests, catalysing the implementation of stricter laws concerning sexual violence in India. Of the accused, four were sentenced to death and subsequently executed in 2020, while the juvenile offender received a three-year sentence in a juvenile home.
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The Aarushi Talwar Murder Case (2008, Noida): The murders of 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar and the family's domestic help, Hemraj, in Noida represent one of India's most debated criminal cases. Initially, Hemraj was the prime suspect, but the discovery of his body shifted suspicion to Aarushi's parents, Dr. Rajesh and Nupur Talwar. After a lengthy investigation, the Talwars were convicted in 2013. However, the Allahabad High Court overturned their conviction in 2017, acquitting them due to insufficient evidence. To this day, the mystery of who committed the murders remains unresolved, with many believing the police investigation was mishandled.
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The Ranga and Billa Case (1980, Delhi): The "Ranga-Billa" case, involving the brutal murders of teenage siblings Geeta and Sanjay Chopra in 1978, sent shockwaves across Delhi. The perpetrators, Kuljeet Singh (Ranga) and Jasbir Singh (Billa), kidnapped the teenagers, who had hitched a ride with them, and subsequently murdered them using sharp objects. Despite public outcry and initial police mishandling, meticulous investigation and forensic evidence led to their arrest and conviction. This horrific crime is notable as one of India's earliest instances where the term "psychopathic murderers" was widely used, leading to the eventual hanging of Ranga and Billa in 1982.
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The Jessica Lal Murder Case (1999, Delhi): Jessica Lal, a model and bartender, was shot dead in Delhi's Tamarind Court by Manu Sharma, the son of a wealthy and influential politician. Despite multiple witnesses, the case was initially dismissed due to lack of evidence. However, the case gained widespread media attention and, following intense public pressure and further investigation, Sharma was re-arrested and convicted in 2006, receiving a life sentence. This high-profile case exposed the influence of wealth and power on the Indian justice system, ultimately sparking greater public awareness and calls for accountability.
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The Shakti Mill Rape and Murder Case (2013, Mumbai): In 2013, the Shakti Mill compound in Mumbai became the scene of a horrifying gang rape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old photojournalist, followed by a similar attack on another woman on the same day. Police swiftly arrested five members of the gang, including the ringleader, using crucial CCTV footage. While some initial reports indicated death sentences, the Bombay High Court later commuted the death penalties for three repeat offenders to life imprisonment, with others also receiving life sentences. This case significantly heightened public awareness and concern regarding sexual violence and women's safety in India.
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The Vikas Dubey Encounter (2020, Kanpur): In July 2020, notorious gangster Vikas Dubey, facing over 60 criminal cases, orchestrated a deadly ambush on a police convoy in Kanpur, resulting in the deaths of eight policemen attempting to arrest him. A massive manhunt ensued, leading to his capture in Madhya Pradesh. However, his life ended abruptly during transit back to Uttar Pradesh when he was killed in an alleged police encounter, with authorities claiming he attempted to escape. While the encounter sparked controversy and questions, it ultimately brought an end to Dubey's prolonged reign of terror.
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The Kathua Rape and Murder Case (2018): The Kathua rape case involved the horrific abduction, gang rape, and murder of an 8-year-old nomadic Muslim girl, Asifa Bano, in January 2018, in the village of Rasana near Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The crime, perpetrated by a group of individuals including a temple priest and police officers, was later revealed to have a communal motive aimed at driving out the nomadic Bakarwal community from the region. The brutal nature of the crime, coupled with the initial support for the accused by certain local political factions, sparked widespread outrage and protests across India and internationally, highlighting deep-seated issues of communalism and violence against minors. Six of the seven adult accused were eventually convicted by a special court in Pathankot, Punjab, in June 2019, with three receiving life imprisonment for the rape and murder, and three others receiving five-year sentences for destroying evidence.
