Jharkhand: POCSO charge added in Ankita murder case
This came after the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) urged the Superintendent of Police (SP) to add POCSO charges to the case after it found that the victim was under the age of 18. The Committee found out that the deceased was 15 years old and 19 as mentioned by Police in her recorded statement.
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Dumka, Sept 1: In a major development, both the accused involved in the Ankita murder case that took place in Dumka, Jharkhand, will be charged under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
This came after the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) urged the Superintendent of Police (SP) to add POCSO charges to the case after it found that the victim was under the age of 18. The Committee found out that the deceased was 15 years old and 19 as mentioned by Police in her recorded statement.
According to reports, the case has been transferred from the Court of Special Judicial Magistrate (SJM) to a First Additional District and Sessions Court (a fast-track court) for speedy disposal. All documents related to the case have been handed over to the special court which will hear the case.
The special POCSO Court Dumka has now ordered to send samples and evidence, including burnt clothes of the deceased, to Forensic Science Laboratory Division (FSL) Ranchi. The court has also sent both accused to 72-hour Police remand. Jharkhand Police told the court that both needed to be confronted for further investigation.
The horrifying took place on August 23 when the accused Shahrukh Hussain poured petrol on the Class 12 girl from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her afire. He had been stalking and harassing her to accept "friendship". According to her father, Shahrukh had also forced to convert to Islam and marry her. The minor girl was admitted to a hospital with 90 per cent burns. She died on Sunday, August 28.
Shahrukh was arrested and is currently in police custody. Another person, who allegedly had supplied petrol to Shahrukh, was also arrested by the police. The second accused has been identified as Chotu Khan alias Naeem.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the apex child rights body, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), will travel to Dumka in Jharkhand on September 4 to meet the family of the victim.