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Ghaziabad, Sep 28 (ANI): A Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Tuesday awarded death sentence to Surender Koli, for rape and murder of a nine-year -old girl in the sensational Nithari killings in 2006, saying he deserved a more severe punishment for his crimes.

Placed under heavy police protection, Koli remained grim after hearing his sentence.

“Koli was booked under Sections 306, 372 and 364 of the Indian Penal Code,” said CBI counsel, J.P. Sharma.

“We highlighted the gravity of the offence committed by Surender Koli in the case, and presented the evidence to the court. On this basis, we demanded capital punishment for the accused. After hearing the plea from both the prosecution and the defendants, the honourable court awarded the death penalty to Koli as per section 302 of the Indian penal Code,” said Sharma.

Earlier on May 12, the CBI court awarded death sentence to Koli for murdering seven-year-old Aarti in Noida’s Nithari village.

In a previous order on the Nithari killings, the special CBI court had on February 12 awarded the death sentence to Moninder Singh Pandher and Surender Koli for their roles in the Rampa Haldar murder case.

Both Pandher and Koli are accused of killing and disposing off the bodies of 19 children and a young woman between 2005 and 2006.

Pandher, who is still lodged in Dasna district jail, was not an accused in this case. 13 other cases remain to be decided.

The investigation of the case was handed over to the CBI on January 11, 2007. The CBI has filed charge sheets in 16 cases. (ANI)