Pranab Kumar Deb, J. - (1.) The criminal appeal preferred by the appellant Nepal Mondal against the conviction and sentence has been heard along with the death reference following the reference being made by the learned Additional Session Judge, 2nd First Track Court, Cooch Behar.
(2.) This case relates to a shocking murder of a little girl. The prosecution case was to the effect that on 13.05.1999 round about 2 p.m., the appellant Nepal Mondal took Namita Das, D/O-Naren Das, with him with the promise to pluck mangoes for her. Since the little girl did not return even after long time, her relations fanned out to search for her. They found the appellant Nepal Mondal reading "Gita" in the house of Bimal Mallick. He was not in normal frame of mind. He murmured that reading of the Gita would wipe out the sin one had committed. Unable to get any clue as to the whereabouts of Namita Das, her relations with neighbours fanned out to search for her. Eventually, her deadbody was found in a ditch with injuries on her person.
(3.) With the information linking the appellant with the commission of the offence started pilling up, the appellant was arrested. The deadbody was sent for post-mortem examination after the holding of the inquest report. Meanwhile, the relations and neighbours of Naren Das were examined. On collection of all materials, the chargesheet was submitted.;