Delhi court finds juvenile guilty of rape, murder of 60-year-old woman
New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court has found a juvenile guilty of raping and murdering a 60-year-old woman in 2017, expressing shock that he inflicted iron rod blows on every body part of the deceased and "mercilessly inserted" it in her private parts.
A final order regarding the sentence will be passed on a later date.
Additional Sessions Judge Amit Sahrawat was hearing the case against the juvenile against whom a case was registered for the penal offences of rape and murder.
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in 2018 concluded that the child in conflict with law (CCL), aged between 16 and 18 years, was required to be tried as an adult, following which the case was transferred to the present Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court.
According to the prosecution, the juvenile inflicted injuries on the woman with the iron rod and then attempted to rape her in the afternoon of November 11, 2017.
It said that a security guard, upon witnessing the crime, raised an alarm, following which the juvenile was apprehended.
In an order dated October 28, the court said, "It is a proved fact that the metallic rod recovered from the spot was inserted by CCL into the private parts of the deceased and due to that the deceased sustained fatal injuries inside her private parts."
It underlined that according to law, if any object (not being the penis of the accused) was inserted to any extent into the vagina, urethra or anus of a woman, then it amounted to rape.
"Thus, even if there is no clarification from the versions of prosecution witness 3 (security guard) regarding the insertion of the private part of CCL into the private part of the deceased, then also the act of inserting this metallic rod into the private parts of the deceased amounts to rape," the court said.
It noted the post-mortem report, according to which several external injuries were inflicted from the "bulky" metallic rod on "each and every body part" of the deceased, including her face, back of neck, back of head, face, chest, arm, elbow, wrist, head, forearm, finger, vagina, anus and knee.
The court said that if so many injuries were caused to the 60-year-old woman, then there was no doubt about the juvenile's intention to cause death.
It said, "Further, it is also considerable that the CCL did not just give blows of this rod on the body of the deceased, rather he mercilessly inserted this rod into the private parts of the deceased and caused fatal injuries inside her private parts."
The court said that the accused "inserted this metallic rod inside the private parts of the deceased so mercilessly that even the flesh/ body part separating vagina and anus also got torn."
Further, the doctor had also opined that the injuries were sufficient to cause death, the court said.
"In a nutshell, CCL is found to be in conflict with law for the offence of rape and murder punishable under Sections 376 (rape) and 302 (murder) of the IPC," the court said.
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Trekking without nature guide won't be allowed; Karnataka forest minister releases SOP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said that trekking will no longer be permitted on any approved trekking routes under the forest department, without a certified nature guide equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies.
Speaking after releasing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for the safety of trekkers, he said that there will be one local nature guide for every 10 trekkers. A maximum of 150 trekkers will be allowed per batch on any trekking route.
According to him, online registration for trekking is mandatory. Even if a single individual registers for a particular day, a guide will still be provided, and trekking without a guide will not be allowed.
He said the SOP was introduced following recent incidents, including a woman from Kerala who went missing for three days in the forests during a trek at Tadiandamol hill in Kodagu, and a minor girl who went missing and was later found dead near Manikyadhara in Chikkamagaluru, which is outside forest jurisdiction.
In a statement, the Khandre's office said that nature guides will be mandatorily equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies on all trekking routes. "Additionally, a mobile app containing trekking route maps will be installed on trekkers' phones. This will help locate trekkers if they lose their way", it said.
As per the SOP, before the trek begins, trekkers will be briefed about the distance, duration, and local conditions.
"Instructions on how to respond if wildlife is encountered will also be provided. Loud devices, sharp metal objects, weapons, and campfires are strictly prohibited on trekking routes," it said.
The SOP further stated that separate toilets for men and women and drinking water facilities will be provided at base camps.
Directional arrow markings will guide trekkers along the route, and rest points will be created along the way, it said.
Citing the SOP, the statement said that nature guides must ensure that no trekker moves ahead of them or is left behind. Headcounts must be conducted at base camps and rest points.
"Guides must communicate with the base camp via walkie-talkie every 30 minutes. If there is no communication within an hour of the trek starting, base camp staff will contact the guide to confirm safety," it said.
The SOP states that minors must carry a consent letter from their parents or guardians, and senior citizens must provide a fitness certificate confirming their physical capability to undertake trekking. To be able to respond to unexpected health issues, trekkers and guides must carry a first aid kit.
However, flash photography, single-use plastics, and carry bags are prohibited and trekkers must bring back their waste and dispose of it only at base camps, as per SOP.
It further said that all trekking routes under the forest department will be integrated into the official website (https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in/) to enable advance booking of tickets.
