Juvenile convict in Delhi gang-rape case released

The juvenile convict of the horrific December 16 gangrape case was released on Sunday and sent to an NGO after Delhi Commission for Women's last ditch effort to block it through a stay order from the Supreme Court failed, prompting protests by the victim's distraught parents who assailed the Centre and the Delhi government for failing to secure them justice. Government sources said he will be under the care of an NGO till the Delhi government finalises a rehabilitation plan for the convict who is now 20 years old and was known to be the most brutal of the six attackers.

His freedom came, as parents of the gangrape victim continued their protest for the second day. Police detained the parents and hundreds of other protesters who had gathered at India Gate to oppose the release of the youngest convict.

"We have left him with an NGO," a police source said.

The convict was released after the SC in a post-midnight order declined to stay the release of the juvenile offender in response to a Special Leave Petition filed by the the Delhi Commission for Women.

"How many more rapes, how many more murders will have to take place for the government to change laws related to juveniles. I want (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji to consider giving us two minutes (for a meeting)," said Asha Devi, mother of the victim.

Angry at the police for detaining the protesters at India Gate, she said,"The youth who should have been put behind bars has been allowed to walk out free. And we who have suffered a lot, are being chased by police. We are heart broken."

In their order pronounced at 2 AM, a vacation bench comprising Justices A K Goel and U U Lalit declined to give an urgent hearing to the Delhi Commission for Women on its petition seeking a stay on his release and posted the matter for hearing on Monday.

Government sources said when asked two days back whether he would like to go home in Badaun in Uttar Pradesh or to an NGO, the juvenile convict had opted for the latter citing security concerns.

"We are helpless as far as the release is concerned. Our government, whether Centre or state, they only listen to you when you protest and get lathicharged, else they don't care," said the victim's father Badri Singh Pandey.

Asha Devi, the victim's mother said, "All knew that he will be released, so adequate steps should have been taken in the past three years."