After the CBI apprehended a Class XI student of Ryan International School, Bhondsi branch, on charges of murdering a seven-year-old schoolmate on September 8, the parents of the victim demanded that the accused be tried as an adult given the heinous nature of the crime.
“The theory put forth by the CBI is more probable than the one the Haryana police gave after their probe. From the very first day we said we did not believe the police’s version that the bus conductor committed the crime and that is the reason why we demanded a CBI inquiry. It is clear that the local police were trying to botch up the investigations,” said the victim’s father.
Demanding stringent punishments for all those involved in “diluting” the case, the father said: “We want the CBI frame charges against all those who tried to clear up the scene of the crime. A strong message needs to be sent to all in order to curb crimes against children.”
Sushil K Tekriwal, the lawyer representing the victim’s family, said: “We believe that a deep-rooted conspiracy has been hatched. It is important to find out at whose behest all the evidences were being destroyed and who was being shielded. The top management of the school, including the Pintos, should be interrogated. We demand that the accused be tried as an adult and given death penalty.”
“The nature of the crime is not ordinary. It is a gruesome and cold-blooded murder. If the mental framework of the child is mature enough to make an assessment as to what is right and what is wrong, we will not leave any stone unturned to prove to the Juvenile Justice Board that he should be tried as an adult,” added Mr. Tekriwal.