"We are not bothered about minority or majority status of the accused. All we want is justice," the mother of the 23-year-old December 16 gangrape victim said today, ahead of the Juvenile Justice Board's verdict in the case involving a minor
"Like the four adult accused are expected to get death sentence, he (juvenile) should also be hanged," she said. She was asked if the maximum sentence of three years under the Juvenile Justice Act, if awarded, is commensurate with the crime.
Representational pic/ AFP
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"This day reminds me of the morning of December 17 when we heard of the crime committed with our daughter," she said arriving at the JJB in morning today. The victim's mother said, "Earlier, we were praying with folded hands before doctors and God for our daughter's life. Now we are praying before JJB to convict her assaulter and award maximum sentence." The girl died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.
The victim's mother also said she was satisfied with the proceedings and was sure to get justice for her deceased daughter. Large number of mediapersons are awaiting the verdict of the Board, which according to sources, has typed the judgement and will pronounce the same after lunch. The public in and around the JJB and relatives of juveniles accused in other cases could be seen waiting for the same.
The Board is expected to deliver the verdict as the apex court had on August 22 allowed it to pronounce the judgement in the case against the juvenile, who according to the police, was the "most brutal" of all the six accused persons.
The Board, which convicted the juvenile for robbing Ramadhar, a carpenter, who had boarded the bus on the night of December 16, 2012 and was thrown out before the girl and her friend were assaulted, is also expected to pronounce the sentence in the robbery case.
During the inquiry, the juvenile had denied all charges against him, claiming he was not a participant in the horrendous crime. While the juvenile faced inquiry before the JJB, the other four adult accused--Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur--are being tried before a fast track court.
Key accused Ram Singh was found hanging in Tihar Jail in March and the proceedings against him stand abated. They have been charged with gangrape, murder, criminal conspiracy, unnatural sex and robbery besides other sections of IPC. The case had sparked intense debate on anti-rape laws and whether the juvenile age should be lowered. u00a0
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