A cleric of madrassa was also arrested on Friday and sent to police custody.
The 17-year-old boy, who was apprehended earlier for allegedly raping a minor in a madrassa in Sahibabad, might actually not be a juvenile. Senior police officers investigating the case said that efforts to ascertain his real age are being made and medical help will soon be sought if needed. A 34-year-old cleric of the madrassa was also arrested on Friday and sent to police custody.
Reacting to the suspicion over the youth's age, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Alok Kumar said, "The angle is being looked into. Any medical assistance, if required, will be sought."
If the age of the main accused is established to be less than 18, then, according to the law, he will be tried as an adult for raping the minor girl.
The cleric, Ghulam Shahid, told the cops that he was aware of the crime committed on the 11-year-old girl within the madrassa premises by the youth, police said. Meanwhile, a group of victim's family and locals assembled outside the maulvi's residence in Ghaziabad on Friday and vandalised the place. Communal slogans were also raised by the crowd, police said.
The girl was rescued on April 23 from the madrasa in Sahibabad by a Delhi Police team after his father lodged a missing complaint on April 21. The victim had recorded her statement in front of a magistrate on the same day. She had told the police that the juvenile took her to the madrassa on the pretext of taking her to meet his friends.
The 17-year-old main accused was detained after the girl's medical examination confirmed rape, and a case was registered under POCSO (Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences Act) and the boy was sent to a juvenile home.
Meanwhile, the Ghaziabad Police on Saturday arrested 3 women in connection with the incident of protest on Friday, where they barged and ransacked the house of the cleric, whom they wanted to be arrested.
"The three accused have been identified as Kiran, Pushpa and Nimita, who were part of the alleged Shiv Sena group, who had barged and ransacked the house of the cleric on Friday morning in Arthala area of Sahibabad. The three have been sent to jail," said a senior police officer.
STATEMENT RECORDED
- The victim had recorded her statement on the same day. She had told the police that the juvenile took her to the madrassa on pretext of taking her to meet his friends.
- The main accused was detained after the girl’s medical examination confirmed rape.
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