New Delhi:The juvenile convict of the horrific December 16 gangrape case was today released and sent to an NGO after DCW’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 Delhi government for failing to get 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 today along with activists demanding death penalty for him. 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,” police sources said.
The convict was released after the Supreme Court 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.