Bhopal, March 18 -- A special court (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal on Tuesday awarded a triple-death sentence to a man convicted for rape and murder of a five-year-old girl, which was reported in September last year.

The court also sentenced the convict's mother and sister for two years of rigorous imprisonment each for causing disappearance of evidence.

Additional Sessions Judge and Special Judge (POCSO) Kumudini Patel sentenced the accused Atul Nihale with triple death sentence separately under sections 64(2)(L) of BNS (Bharatiya Nyay Sahita) & 5(j)(i)/6 of POCSO Act, section 66 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) & 5(j)(iv)/6 of POCSO Act and section 103 of BNS.

Additionally, Judge Patel senten...