KOCHI: The Ernakulam POCSO court on Tuesday awarded a death sentence to Bihar native Ashfaq Alam in the Aluva rape and murder case, to death. The court awarded a death sentence to Ashfaq, a habitual offender, after finding that he was a threat to the girls living in the society.

Ashfaq had been expelled from his own house due to his bad character. He was a drunkard and used to smuggle liquor from Nepal. He often used to attack others under the influence of alcohol. Unable to bear his nuisance, the Gram Sabha met and decided to expel him from the house. Reports are also claiming that Ashfaq is addicted to porn videos.

This is not the first time that Ashfaq Alam was named accused in a POCSO case. In 2018, the Delhi police had arrested him for attempting to sexually assault a 10-year-old girl. He was working in Khasipur when he attempted to sexually assault the girl. Although the girl, who became frightened, hid in a bathroom, Ashfaq found her. The girl then managed to escape from him by biting on his wrist. She then informed the neighbours. Even though the police arrested him, he remained in jail only for a month. After getting released on bail, Ashfaq continued to work in Delhi for a year. He then moved to Bihar and later to Kerala.

Ashfaq, who reached Kerala three years ago, arrived in Aluva a month before the incident took place. Although he claimed to be a construction worker, those who lived with him had no idea where he used to work. He also used to commit theft and use that money to get drunk. Ashfaq brutally raped and murdered the five-year-old daughter of a migrant worker couple on June 28.

Ashfaq abducted the daughter of a Bihari couple living near the Thaikkattukara garage by luring her by buying her juice. He then took the child behind the Aluva market, sexually abused her and murdered her.