The Capital police, after a week long investigation, apprehended three minors from Kurung Kumey district in Arunachal Pradesh in connection with the murder of one Aisha Bano, 55, on Wednesday.
Capital Superintendent of Police M. Harshvardhan told the media that the three have been kept under the supervision of Naharlagun SDPO Make Bui and Sub-Inspector Sushant Jha.
The minors, aged 14, 16 and 17 years, have been temporarily residing in the capital and their school record is poor, police said.
“They have been found to be irregular in class and using drugs,” the SP said.
The police followed intelligence inputs besides visiting Lakhimpur in Assam to find a link between the trio and the murder. They confessed to the crime, the SP said.
He also said a local dao (machete) was used in the crime. The three were under the influence of drugs and had intended to rob the family,” Harshvardhan said.
“According to the latest Juvenile Act, if any minor commits heinous crime such as murder we can pray to the court to try his or her case as an adult. In this case, we praying the court to treat them as adults,” he said.
The SP said parents should be guiding the children during their teens so that they do not get out of control, adding the police were taking the case serious whether or not the victim was from Assam or any other State.
Referring to the recent law and order problem at Harmuty and protest against the people of Arunachal Pradesh, the SP said finding the culprits in such cases takes time and people should not create tension among different communities.
“Creating hurdles is not only irresponsible but also affects the investigation process,” he said.
Unknown miscreants had on September 5 attacked Aisha and her husband Ramzan Ali, from Lakhimpur district of Assam. They were residing in a remote agricultural field of Naharlagun’s Pachin Colony.
Aisha was later taken to city hospital where the doctors declared her dead. Her husband recovered from grievous injuries and was discharged from the hospital.