Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Juvenile Justice Board in Hailakandi, Assam, ordered a 17-year-old suspect to stand trial as an adult. The teen faces charges for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl. The girl died at her home in the Aloichora area on August 1. Police detained the suspect in the first week of August, noting he was 17 years and five months old at the time of the incident.
The principal magistrate based the decision on a psychological report, a medical assessment from Silchar Medical College and Hospital, and an offence report from investigators. Authorities charged the group under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including section 65(1) for rape and section 103(1) for murder. The case also includes section 6 of the POCSO Act. A Special Investigation Team submitted a chargesheet against five suspects in September after reviewing forensics and digital records.
Protests rocked the Barak Valley following the killing. Residents blocked National Highway-6 to demand capital punishment for the perpetrators. The court ruling sparked sharp debate among legal experts. Senior advocate Gautam Ghose backed the move. "If we look at the brutality of the incident, as reported in newspapers and described in police statements, it was extreme. Such an act is difficult even to imagine being committed by a child. We welcome the court's decision," Ghose stated.
Others expressed concern over the precedent. Human rights activist Taniya Laskar argued the decision ignores international protections for minors. She suggested the move might face a challenge in higher court. Meanwhile, Supreme Court advocate Milan Laskar noted that trying minors as adults for heinous crimes occurs elsewhere in India. The victim's family expressed relief, telling reporters they wanted equal accountability for everyone involved. The case will now proceed through the court system to determine guilt.
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