A court here sentenced a youth to death on Tuesday for killing schoolgirl Konika in the district.

Judge of the Juvenile Court Ziaur Rahman handed down the verdict in presence of the youth after examining 21 prosecution witnesses and relevant documents.

The convict is Abdul Malek, 28, son of Abdul Latif of Diar Dhainagar village under Sadar upazila.

Public Prosecutor Jobdul Haque said the court also awarded him three years rigorous imprisonment (RI) under Section 324, 10 years RI and fine of Tk 5,000, in default, he will have to suffer three months more RI, under Section 326, and 10 years RI and fine of TK 5,000, in default, he will have to suffer three months more RI, under Section 307, for seriously injuring three other girl students.

Sub-Inspector Mahmudur Rashid submitted the charge sheet to the court on October? in 2016.

According to the prosecution, schoolgirl Konika Rani, 14, daughter of late Laxman Ghosh of Mohipur village, was hacked to death and three other girls were injured by a youth in the area. Konika was a Class X student of Mohipur SM Dwimukhi High School.

The injured are Tarin Afroz, 15, daughter of Abdul Khalek of Diar-Dhainagar,

Tanzima Khatun, 14, daughter of Tazemul Islam of Arun Bari of Mohipur, and Mariam Akhtar, 14, daughter of Mokbul Hossain of Behula village. They are also Class X students of the same school.

Malek swooped on the girls and hacked them with a sharp weapon while they were returning home after taking lessons from a private tutor in Mohipur on May 27, 2016, leaving them seriously injured.

Locals rushed them to Adhunik Sadar Hospital where the doctor on duty declared Konika dead. The three others were referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

Critically injured Mariam was shifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for better treatment. She returned home on Tuesday.

Locals caught Malek from the area and handed him over to police.

Konika's mother Anjoli Rani filed a murder case accusing Malek with Sadar Model Police station the same night.

Expressing satisfaction, Anjoli demanded quick execution of the verdict.

Meanwhile, Konika's three classmates, who were injured by the youth, are sitting for the SSC examinationsstartingtoday.

They were present in the court with Konika’s mother during the verdict. The girls also called for quick execution of the punishment