RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, July 12: After nine years of investigation and trial, a POCSO court in the city today convicted the accused of raping and killing a minor.
Judge of the court Asif Iqbal while convicting the accused fixed July 19 for a decision on quantum of punishment.
The FIR was registered on April 24, 2013 at Doranda police station in the city centre, a day after a seven-year old girl, Pari (name changed), was murdered after rape.
The police could ascertain the accused after about seven years after the incident. It named Mohammad Sahid Akhtar and Sahajadi Khatoon, who are close relatives of the deceased, as accused. They had committed murder to hide their illicit relationship.
As many as 22 witnesses, including four Superintendents of Police were examined in the case. The court also had to examine brain mapping and narco test reports.
It would have been difficult to ascertain the accused if the Jharkhand High Court had not intervened into it taking suo-moto cognizance of the matter and giving direction to assign responsibility of investigation to a SP rank officer.
