Minor arrested on rape charge; to be tried as adult

A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Ailau area here for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl and would be tried as an adult in the case, the first in the state to be prosecuted under the amended Juvenile Justice law, police said today.
The girl had gone to graze her cattle at a village on Thursday when the boy raped her, Circle Officer Shailendra Singh said.
The girl was sent for medical examination in a critical condition but was not admitted initially due to unavailability of a doctor. However, after the intervention of District Magistrate Chandra Pal Singh and Chief Medical Officer KK Sharma, the victim was given primary treatment and the medical examination confirmed rape, the CO said.

The girl has been referred to Saifai for further treatment, he said.
The accused was arrested yesterday and sent to the district jail instead of the juvenile home, he said citing the change in the law for trial of juveniles as adults in heinous crimes.
The Rajya Sabha had on December 20 last passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, which permits juveniles between the ages of 16-18 years to be tried as adults for heinous offences including rape and murder.