Nagpur, India- A judge has sentenced seven men to life in prison for kidnapping and gang-raping a 16-year-old girl. The convicted men are Atul Janbandhu, Firoz Ahmed, Swapnil Jawade, Mayur Barsagde, Krishna Dongre, Jitu Manglani, and Sachin Bawne.

According to the prosecution, the girl, who was living in a government home for girls, ran away with three friends on April 20, 2017. They slept near a shop that night, and the next day, her friends returned to the home, but she stayed near the Sitabuldi flyover.

The seven men, along with four others who were later acquitted, lured the girl with food and shelter. Krishna Dongre, an autorickshaw driver, found her near Mor Bhavan, gave her snacks, and took her to Variety Square. There, he handed her over to Firoz Ahmed, a shoe vendor. The men then took her to a flat in Jaripatka, where they gang-raped her on April 21 and 22, 2017.

After the girl reported the crime, the police arrested the men on April 23, 2017, and charged them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (PoCSO) Act.

The court found Atul Janbandhu, Firoz Ahmed, Swapnil Jawade, Mayur Barsagde, Krishna Dongre, Jitu Manglani, and Sachin Bawne guilty and sentenced them to life in prison, along with fines. They were also sentenced to additional prison terms for other offenses, with all sentences to run at the same time.

The court acquitted Pralay Meshram, Somil Narkhedkar, Suresh Barsagde, and Manohar Sakhare due to lack of evidence. Madhuri Motghare, the Additional Public Prosecutor, represented the state.

Seven men were sentenced to life for kidnapping and gang-raping a 16-year-old girl in Nagpur; four others were acquitted due to lack of evidence.