Arms trade: girl sent to observation home

A Delhi court on Saturday sent a girl, who is alleged to be a part of a syndicate selling illegal semi-automatic weapons and ammunition to criminals, to an observation home, terming her to be a minor.

A Delhi court on Saturday sent a girl, who is alleged to be a part of a syndicate selling illegal semi-automatic weapons and ammunition to criminals, to an observation home, terming her to be a minor.

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Chief metropolitan magistrate Vinod Yadav took into consideration the findings of a medical board to conclude that the girl, who is pursuing Class XII through Open School, is a juvenile.

"Now that there is prima facie material on the basis of which the accused appears to be a minor, she should not be sent to judicial custody. She should immediately be shifted to an observation home," the court said.

The court had ordered the constitution of a medical board to go into the issue of determining the age of the girl, who was arrested along with Riyaz Mohammed alias Pappu (42) on November 12, by Delhi police's Special Cell.

The court, meanwhile, directed Munna Baksh, who claimed to be her father, to approach the Juvenile Justice Board for deciding his application, seeking custody as well as the bail.