No woman safe,whatever her age: court

“This conduct of the convict can create shock waves in the thousands of other ladies passengers,whether they are safe in city like Delhi to go alone while commuting by different modes of transport like the rickshaw,” the ASJ said.

“This case is a glaring example that no woman is safe,whatever her age. In this case,victim is an old lady of 77 years of age,whereas convict is of the age of just 22 years. Thus the victim is more than the age of his grand mother. But even then this has not deter the convict to commit rape with a helpless and old lady,” the ASJ said.

The court also convicted Bhola for injuring the woman,hurting her by means of poison and criminal intimidation.

The court said the woman passenger sat on the rickshaw trusting she will be dropped to her destination but Bhola had “different intentions” and used a cloth containing poisonous or stupefying substance to make her unconscious and took her to a secluded place to commit the crime.

The judge said the act of the convict was so “ghastly and inhuman” that it cannot be condoned and lighter sentence cannot be imposed.

“Therefore,in my view Bhola is not only required to be punished with severe sentence,as he committed such a heinous crime with the woman,but court is also required to send a message to all such persons,so that,it could deter them to do such things. Both these goals can be achieved through proper sentencing,” the ASJ said.