In a significant ruling, a special court in Puducherry sentenced 21-year-old M Karnas to death for the kidnapping, gang-rape, and murder of a nine-year-old girl. The crime, committed over two years ago, was described by the special judge for Pocso Act cases, M D Sumathi, as one of the 'rarest of the rare' due to its heinous nature. The court highlighted the brutality involved, noting that the victim was tortured before her death and that the accused showed no remorse, even celebrating after the crime. The prosecution argued that the crime not only affected the victim's family but also instilled fear in the community regarding the safety of children from economically weaker backgrounds. In addition to the death sentence, the court ordered the government to provide ₹10 lakh (approximately $12,000 USD) in compensation to the victim's family. Another accused, G Vivekanandhan, aged 59, who was involved in the crime, died by suicide in prison, leading to the abatement of charges against him.