‘Minor’ sent to juvenile home

An accused arrested in connection with the August 11 violence at Azad Maidan was sent to the juvenile protection home on Thursday, after the defence advocate claimed that the person was a minor.

An accused arrested in connection with the August 11 violence at Azad Maidan was sent to the juvenile protection home on Thursday, after the defence advocate claimed that the person was a minor.

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The crime branch had produced the accused before the magistrate court on Thursday and sought a remand. However, family members of the accused moved the court pleading that the person was a minor, and should have been produced before the juvenile court instead.

“The accused was shown arrested on Wednesday. We have produced the school leaving certificate and Aadhar card to show that he is a minor,” said defence lawyer Wahab Khan. The court thereafter ordered the officials to take the suspect for a medical examination. “However, as the medical examination was not done during the day, the accused was sent to a juvenile home and will be taken for medical tests on Friday,” Khan said.

Khan added that he has also filed an application alleging that the police detained the minor illegally for two days. The lawyer also moved another application alleging that the police disclosed the accused name to mediapersons in violation of child rights norms.

The person in question was arrested on Wednesday, taking the number of arrests to 54. Five persons have already been discharged in the case.