Bhondsi violence: Cop asked to explain arrest of adult as a juvenile

The 21-year-old student was arrested in connection with the violence on January 24. He was produced before the JJ Board as a minor

Davender Singh, principal magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board(JJB), served a show-cause notice to the station house officer of Bhondsi police station on Friday, directing him to explain the circumstances under which he had apprehended a 21-year-old student and produced him before the board as a juvenile. The accused was arrested in connection with the violence that broke out in Bhondsi on January 24. A bus was set on fire by miscreants demanding a ban on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period piece ‘Padmaavat’.

The Haryana Roadways bus that was set on fire by a mod on January 24. (Sanjeev Verma/HT FILE PHOTO)

Members of the Juvenile Justice Board said that they were shocked to see the documents submitted by the legal-cum-probation officer in her social investigation report on Friday, as they clearly mentioned that the accused was over 18 years of age.

Singh served a notice on the SHO, Bhondsi police station, stating that the social investigation report of the boy, submitted by the legal-cum-probation officer, clearly states that his date of birth is 12.10.1997 and he is more than 18. However, he said, despite the report stating otherwise, he was produced as a juvenile and his death of birth wasn’t verified. He called the act a glaring example of negligence on the part of the police.

“Therefore, a show cause notice is being served on the SHO. He is to appear in person in the court on February 14 and explain why action shouldn't be initiated against them,” the notice states.

However, inspector Umesh Kumar, SHO, Bhondsi, denied receiving any such notice.

“When I visited the village, I met the boy’s mother and was shocked to know that he was a final year BSC student. I took copies of his Aadhaar card and the marksheet of his class 10 boards. When I met him at the (Faridabad) observation home, he confirmed that he was 21 years of age,” Nisha Saini, the legal-cum probation-officer, said.

Read I Juveniles detained for Bhondsi violence deny involvement

The boy’s family members said he was on his way to bring his sister from Bhondsi when he was arrested.

The juvenile will be treated as an adult after the police submits its reply to the JJB.

Gurgaon police apprehended eight juveniles from Bhondsi in connection with the violence on January 24. They were produced before the JJ Board on January 25 and sent to the Faridabad observation home. They were held along with 10 other people on charges of attempt to murder, rioting, snatching, damaging government property and preventing government employees from discharging their duty.

A group of 50-60 miscreants had attacked a bus belonging to GD Goenka World School on Sohna Road on January 24. The miscreants hurled stones at the bus, which had 23 students, three teachers and staff members. The bus’s windscreen was smashed. They also vandalised a Haryana Roadways bus and set it ablaze.