Dec 16 gang rape: victim's brother tries to attack minor

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI): The younger brother of December 16 gang rape victim today allegedly tried to attack the juvenile who he was awarded three-year sentence for the rape and murder of his sister by Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) here.

"When the judgement was being delivered by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), presided over by Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel, the victim's younger brother tried to attack the minor," the sources at the Board said.

They said victim's brother, who was waiting for the Board's decision since morning, suddenly moved towards the juvenile and tried to slap him, after the order was pronounced.

However, the boy was brought under control by those present inside the court room, including the prosecution, defence counsel and the 23-year-old victim's father and mother.

The victim's brother had accompanied the parents to hear the verdict of the Board.

After coming out of the JJB, he broke down and expressed disagreement with the quantum of the sentence awarded to the juvenile accused.

"The accused has been sentenced to three years, which is very less for him in comparison to the crime he committed. He should be hanged here only," he said in tears.

Without waiting further, he forced his way along with his parents by pushing the iron gate where policemen were posted.

The parents were also upset over the verdict and broke down and rushed outside the court room, saying "they lost the battle" and "there was no need for these proceedings".

"I was already dead on December 29, when I lost my daughter. However, I gathered courage to attend the proceedings at the Board thinking the minor will also be hanged", he said.

He further said "the Board should have senetenced the juvenile keeping in mind his crime and not thinking of his age at the time of offence."

The mother said the verdict is not acceptable to them. "There was no need for these proceedings. We have been fooled. I don't accept the judgement. What was the need for keeping us waiting for the whole day"? she said.

Earlier Report

Delhi gang rape: Minor gets three years in reform home

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS): The Juvenile Justice Board Saturday sentenced the lone minor accused in the Dec 16, 2012 gang rape here to a three-year stay in a special home, while dissatisfied family members of the victim said they wanted harsher punishment for him.

The board, presided over by Principal Magistrate Geetanjali Goel, pronounced the verdict and acquitted him of some of the charges for which he was booked.

The incident occurred in Munirka in south Delhi when a 23-year-old woman physiotherapy intern was brutally gang raped in a bus that she and her male companion had boarded.

After pronouncement of verdict, the mother of the victim came out of the board and interacted with media and said she was "not satisfied" with verdict.

With tears in her eyes, she said: "We are not satisfied with the verdict.'

"If minors do such things and get away so easily, how will the law work? It cannot be done like this. Law needs to be changed. We will move the higher court against the judgment," she said.

The juvenile board refused to reveal all the charges for which the minor accused had been convicted and acquitted.

A period of around eight months that he has spent in juvenile observation home will be deducted from his punishment of three years in the special home, said the board.

The lawyer of the minor accused said his conduct at special home will be observed by the board and the sentence would be reviewed.

"The board will observe his conduct during his stay in reform home and can review its sentence order and there is a possibility that he could come out early," Rajesh Tiwari, advocate of juvenile, said.

The board pronounced its judgment around 3.30 p.m. The victim's father, mother, two brothers and a relative had areached the board in the morning.

The father of victim, while talking to media outside the board, said: "Our daughter has died and now after listening to this verdict we also have virtually died. This will only encourage the crime."

After the order was pronounced, some protestors raised slogans outside the board and sought death penalty for the minor accused.

More than 150 media persons from national and international news papers, channels and agency gathered from the morning to cover the case.

The gang rape had sparked protests across the country with some people demanding the execution of the accused and some calling for chemical castration.

Police in their charge sheet said the juvenile was the most brutal of all the accused.

A native of Uttar Pradesh, the minor had moved to Delhi at the age of 11 and was arrested after the incident from Anand Vihar in east Delhi.

Six people, including the juvenile, were arrested in the case. While accused Ram Singh, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur faced trial in fast track court in Saket in south Delhi, the juvenile's case was heard by the board.

The case against Ram Singh was dropped after he was found dead, hanging in his cell in Tihar Jail.