The Fast-Track Special Court in Hoshiarpur termed the case “rarest of rare”. The death sentence will require confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Hoshiarpur Court Awards Death Penalty
Hoshiarpur, September 19, 2026: A Fast-Track Special Court in Hoshiarpur has sentenced Nanke Yadav alias Radhe Sham, a 33-year-old migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh, to death for the sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old boy.
Additional Sessions Judge Manpreet Kaur described the case as falling under the “rarest of rare” category while pronouncing the sentence. The death penalty, however, cannot be executed unless it is confirmed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Five-Year-Old Boy Went Missing in September 2025
According to court-related reports, the incident took place on September 9, 2025, when the five-year-old boy went missing from the New Deep Nagar area of Hoshiarpur.
The child had gone to a nearby gurdwara with his nine-year-old sister. Investigators alleged that Yadav lured the child away on the pretext of helping him with his toy vehicle.
The child’s body was recovered the following day from bushes near the boundary of a cremation ground in the Rahimpur area.
Accused Arrested Within 24 Hours
Following a complaint by the child’s father, police registered a case at the Industrial Focal Point Purhiran police station on September 10, 2025.
Yadav was arrested within 24 hours of the FIR being registered. During the investigation, police collected CCTV footage and other evidence relating to the child’s disappearance and death.
The court convicted Yadav on September 15, 2026, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act before announcing the sentence on September 18.
Court Calls Case ‘Rarest of Rare’
While deciding the sentence, the court considered the circumstances of the crime and concluded that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating factors.
The court awarded the death penalty under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Yadav was also awarded separate terms of rigorous imprisonment under other provisions of the BNS and POCSO Act, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The court additionally awarded ₹5 lakh in compensation to the victim’s parents under the Punjab Victim or their Dependents Compensation Scheme, 2011.
Death Sentence Subject to High Court Confirmation
The death penalty pronounced by the Hoshiarpur court is not final for execution. Under Indian law, a death sentence passed by a trial court requires confirmation by the concerned High Court.
The accused has also been informed of his right to appeal against the conviction and sentence within 30 days.
The case has drawn significant attention in Hoshiarpur, with the court’s judgment bringing the trial-stage proceedings to a conclusion while the legal process can continue through the appellate courts.
Source: Babushahi Network / PTI reports
