INDIA: DEATH SENTENCES FOR SIX IN PATNA FOR KIDNAPPING

ADJ Ram Pravesh Sharma, at a fast track court in Patna, India, awarded capital punishment to six people for kidnapping and murdering a 13 year old schoolboy. The six men were identified as Santosh alias Loha, Goraknath Singh (60) and his son Sunny Kumar, Ravindar Kumar Singh, Neerja and Ravi. They kidnapped Sumit Kumar from outside his school at Phulwarisharif on September 21, 2004. According to the prosecution, Sumit was tortured to death following his father's refusal to pay ransom, and his naked body was found near the railway track in Phulwarisharif the next day. He had extensive burns caused by acid and cigarettes. Sources said Sumit was killed after the police arrested one of the culprits. The case, originally being heard in a sessions court, was transferred to the fast track court in February 2005 for a speedy trial.