Juvenile may face trial as adult in Ludhiana gangrape case

Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Ludhiana, April 11

Taking strict note of the accusations of an active involvement of a boy aged above 16 and a half years in the gangrape case near Issewal village, the Juvenile Justice Board has referred the case to the Sessions Court for April 19. The juvenile may face regular trial as an adult.

On April 4, the police had filed a chargesheet against him. The chargesheet suggests that the DNA test confirms his active involvement in the crime along with his five other companions. The victim girl had also identified him during the identification parade held at the local jail under the supervision of a Judicial Magistrate.

Special Public Prosecutor BD Gupta today stressed before the juvenile board for referring the matter to the Sessions Court.

Meanwhile, Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh marked the case of other five adult accused to the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Rashmi Sharma, who posted the case for April 22. The court may frame charges on the next date of hearing.

The chargesheet was submitted in less than 60 days of the incident before the Court of Judicial Magistrate Ankit Airi.

It was filed against accused Sadiq Ali of Mukandpur, Nawanshahr, Jagroop Singh, alias Rupi, of Jaspal Bangar village, Surmo of Khanpur village, Dehlon, Saif Ali of Dehlon and Ajay, alias Lalan, of Jassad Paddi village, Ludhiana.

The investigation was carried out in a scientific manner. Voice samples of telephonic talk between one of the accused and one friend of the victim were matched in the CFSL lab at Mohali and DNA tests of the accused were also got conducted with the permission of court, claimed SSP, Jagraon, Varinder Singh Brar.

The woman was gangraped on Feburary 9 near Issewal village on the banks of the Sidwan canal.