Ranchi, December 21: A Ranchi court on Saturday awarded death sentence to 23-year-old Rahul Raj for the rape and murder of an engineering student in 2016. Raj was convicted on Friday by the court. Special CBI Judge AK Mishra found him guilty of the rape and murder of the fourth-semester engineering student, who was studying in a college located in the Ormanjhi area of Ranchi. The victim was referred to as "Ranchi's Nirbhaya".Madhya Pradesh: First Child Rapist Who Was Sentenced to Death Under New Law to Be Hanged on March 2.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had taken over the case in March last year. The convict was arrested in June this year from Lucknow and was brought to Ranchi. According to reports, a total of 30 witnesses were examined. The victim was found dead at her home in the Booty Basti area in a naked condition on December 16, 2016. She was living alone in the house. The convict also set her house on fire. 11th Death Sentence for Rape in Madhya Pradesh This Year: Man in Sagar District to Face Gallows For Murdering, Sexually Assaulting 14-Year-Old.

An autopsy confirmed that the victim was raped and strangulated to death. The incident triggered student protests in Ranchi. Charges were framed against Raj on October 25, and the trial started on November 8. The trial which went on for 16 days, ended with the conviction of Raj.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2019 05:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).