Undertrial juvenile forced to write matriculation exam in handcuffs in Nawada

Speed Post News Network

Nawada: An  undertrial prisoner and matriculate examinee continues to be transported to and fro from
Nawada jail to the examination centre at Hisua in handcuffs with three cops as escort even as the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, prohibits handcuffing of a juvenile.The examinee is forced to write the answers with handcuffs on.

Nawada SP Vikash Burman expressed serious concern over the high-handedness of the cops and March 4, 2017, and said that disciplinary action would be initiated after ascertaining the fact from the Sergeant Major. According to sources, seventeen- and -a- half year old Rajesh Kumar, son of Baleshwar Manjhi of village Pachiadih under Nawada Muffasil police station, is a student of Pachiadih High School. He was forwarded to judicial custody in 2016 on charges having molested a co-village girl the same year. However, Rajesh contradicts the molestation charge by saying it was consensual adding that the girl was forced into saying otherwise due to pressure from her family members.
A determined Rajesh, however, is keen to pursue his studies hence decided to appear at the matriculation examination despite being in jail and facing trial. His school examination centre was shifted to Inter School, Hisua, 13 km from Nawada jail. Three policemen escort him in an auto to the exam centre.

According to Centre superintendent Mithilesh Kumar Sinha, Rajesh has been provided a separate bench to write his papers but for security reasons the escorting police do not take off his handcuff. This has become a routine ever since the examination commenced from March 1, 2017.
When contacted, Nawada SP Vikash Burman said that handcuffing a juvenile was illegal and he would ascertain full facts from the Sergeant Major before initiating disciplinary action.