The Alipurduar district special judge on Saturday handed the life sentence to a person accused of raping and murdering his minor stepdaughter seven years ago.

According to police sources, on March 25, 2016, an eight-year-old girl along with her friends went to a nearby river to bathe after Holi celebrations.

While the other girls returned home, this child did not.

Later in the evening, when a search for her yielded no result, her family members lodged a missing diary at a police station.

The next day, residents found the child’s body floating in the river.

Police were informed. A team of cops recovered the body.

Sources said that following the investigations, the police arrested the stepfather for murder and under relevant sections of the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act.

Papiya Das, the Alipurduar district special judge, on Saturday found the stepfather guilty and handed the life sentence along with a fine of Rs 20,000.

Jahar Majumder, the special public prosecutor, said after the verdict was announced: “This was a rare case and I had pleaded for harsh punishment. The family members of the victim are relieved today (after the verdict).”

Reacting to the verdict, the defence lawyer said that this was not the end of the road for his client.

Debarshi Chatterjee, the defence lawyer, said: “We will go to a higher court.”