Nandita, a promising student of Moridhal College, was hacked to death on August 21, 2021, in an attack that also left her classmate, Kashmina Dutta, and Kashmina’s father, Deba Dutta, grievously injured.
Representative Image (IANS)
In a significant verdict, the Dhemaji District and Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced Rintu Sharma to death for the brutal murder of 21-year-old college student Nandita Saikia, bringing closure to a case that had shocked Assam and sparked widespread outrage in 2021.
Nandita, a promising student of Moridhal College, was hacked to death on August 21, 2021, in an attack that also left her classmate, Kashmina Dutta, and Kashmina’s father, Deba Dutta, grievously injured.
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The crime, committed in broad daylight, had sent shockwaves across the state, triggering protests from student bodies, women’s groups, and civil society demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrator.
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The Dhemaji Police had registered the case as No. 397/2021 and filed a detailed 400-page chargesheet against Sharma. During the four-year-long trial, the court heard the testimonies of 41 witnesses and examined extensive evidence before holding Sharma guilty under Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 326 (causing grievous hurt with dangerous weapons), 307 (attempt to murder), and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
Delivering its judgment on Thursday, the Sessions Court awarded Sharma the death penalty, noting the brutality of the crime and its impact on society. The ruling is being hailed as a milestone in Assam’s judicial history, especially in a state where crimes against women have been on the rise.
For Nandita’s family, the verdict marks the culmination of a painful and prolonged fight for justice. “She was a bright student with many dreams. Today, at least justice has been delivered,” said a family member after the pronouncement.
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