In what can be called as a case of deliberate manipulation, Jharkhand Police knowingly listed Dumka Hindu girl Ankita’s age as 19 in the police report despite the knowledge of her being a minor.

Reports state that the Jharkhand Police initially stated in the complaint that the girl was 17 when she died, but later changed that to read: “19” On Thursday, however, the Police added POCSO Act provisions against accused Shahrukh Hussain and Naeem after acknowledging that the girl was 15 at the time of the crime.

While looking into the matter, it’s thought that the Jharkhand Police tried to protect the two offenders from harsh punishment under the POCSO Act. The deceased’s age was purposefully modified by the authorities so that she seemed to be an adult. Notably, in her police testimony, the deceased Ankita stated that she was 17 years old.

The police allegedly made an attempt to defend the accused by stating the victim’s age as 19. The victim’s account was nonetheless recorded in the magistrate’s presence. In response to the accusation of overwriting in age, the Police Headquarters has now asked the Dumka DIG to check into the situation.

The Jharkhand Police acknowledged the girl’s age at the time of her murder earlier on September 1 and included pertinent POCSO sections in the investigation.
This came about after the Jharkhand Child Welfare Committee learned about the occurrence and discovered that Ankita, who was enrolled in class 12, was a minor according to her birth papers and paperwork. The CWC produced the deceased’s grade-point average from class ten, which listed her birthdate as November 26, 2006.

Ankita was burned by Shahrukh and was heard pleading for the accused to suffer a horrific death. The video created a considerable uproar on social media days after she died. The Dumka girl, who passed away at 2.30 am on Sunday, had said, “He should die the way I’m dying now.”

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