Rape convict kills self,relatives stage protest

Fast track court judge J M Abbasi had sentenced Ali to seven years imprisonment and a fine or Rs 5,000. Defence lawyer Syed Ahsaan Abaas has submitted a letter to the district judge,stating that Ali had been depressed since May 25,when the fast track court judge had warned that he would sentence Ali to life term or death sentence.

“After the incident,my father went to the police station to lodge a complaint,but was turned down. By committing suicide,my brother has proved he was innocent and falsely named in the case,” said Mohamamd Deen,Ali’s brother.

He added this was the second death in his family in the last one month. Around 15 days ago,Ali’s younger brother Tahir had died after prolonged illness.

“Ali’s death has shattered us. We will fight for justice and it will be a lesson for others,” said Ali’s mother Kharoon Nisha.

On September 27 last year,a 16-year-old girl had lodged an FIR accusing Ali of raping her at her Faizulaganj residence. She did not mention any date. Later,during a medical check-up,the girl was found to be 28-week pregnant. The baby was delivered stillborn. The police,however,did not conduct a DNA test.

Investigating Officer Gauri Shankar Pal,who had filed the chargesheet,made the girl,her mother and father witnesses in the case.

According to the defence lawyer,the girl’s parents told the court that Ali used to visit their house and had raped their daughter when she was alone. They could not recall the date,but said that one day when they returned home from work,their daughter had told them about the incident.

After they got to know that their daughter was pregnant,they asked Ali to marry her,but he refused as he was already married.