Thiruvananthapuram/ Kochi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the punishment given in the Aluva child murder case on Children's Day should be seen as a strong warning to those who commit violence against children.

The chief minister said that the child fell victim to the most heinous crime and therefore, the entire criminal justice system worked efficiently to catch the culprit and ensure the maximum punishment for him.

Vijayan said that while nothing can replace the loss suffered by the parents, the government has assured all kinds of help to them.

ADGP (Law and Order) M R Ajith Kumar also welcomed the sentence given to the convict.

Speaking to reporters outside the court after the sentence was pronounced, the ADGP said it was a case which shocked the conscience of Kerala and the government right from the start was determined to ensure the maximum possible punishment for the accused.

"It is one of the rarest-of-rare cases and the prosecution was able to prove that successfully. The probe was completed in 30 days. The accused was convicted on the 100th day after the incident and today marks the 110th day. This indicates the robustness of the criminal justice system," the officer said.

State Health Minister Veena George also welcomed the verdict and said it would send out a strong message to society that children should not be harmed.

"We all had hoped for the maximum punishment and the court gave that," she told reporters.

The minister appreciated that the probe and the trial were completed in "record time".

She also said that society needs to be aware of the rights of children and protect them.

Meanwhile, one of the eyewitnesses in the case who had seen Alam walking away with the child on that fateful day, was overjoyed with the punishment given to the convict and distributed candy to people.

"The little girl's soul will now attain peace," he told reporters.

The sentence was pronounced on a date celebrated as Children's Day across the country.