The police believe that Asif had first shot Riya on the head and then committed suicide. They have stated that a failed love affair might have been the reason.
This is the fourth death penalty awarded in Odisha after the central government amended the POCSO Act to include the death penalty for rapists of children under 12 years.
Shabuddin Shaikh Raees, Istiyak Khan Abdul Gafur Khan, Shaikh Asif Shaikh Maksood, Shaikh Shoaib Shaikh Maksood, Shaikh Wasim Shaikh Yunus and Salman Khan Zakir Khan have been arrested by the Police.
The deceased is identified as Mannu Vaishnav (45), who works as a newspaper hawker in the colony. Vaishnav had asked for the payments that were due to Rafique Khan. Khan hacked Vaishnav to death with an axe.