‘We confessed to our crime, seek forgiveness’

VADODARA: “Saaheb, ame maani lidhu che ane maafi pan mangi lidhi che (Sir ,we had confessed (to the crime) and even apologized).” This confession was made by Kishan Mathasuriya, one of the two persons arrested for allegedly raping the 14-year-old girl, when they were presented in the court for remand on Monday.
After hearing the arguments of district government pleader and investigating officer, the court asked Mathasuriya and Jasho Solanki if they had anything to say in response to police’s request for remand.While Solanki only started blankly, Mathasuriya made the admission, said government pleader Anil Desai.
Both were remanded to police custody till the evening of December 17 by in-charge special Pocso judge H G Pandya.
The accused were brought to the court amid unprecedented security with the police deployment being done by early evening. However, hours before they were brought to the court, large number of lawyers, law interns and general public crowded the courtroom to catch a glimpse of the rape accused.
The moment Mahasuriya and Solanki were brought in with their hands cuffed and faces hooded. more people jostled with each other to get inside the courtroom. It was only after the judge and some advocates intervened and asked all to maintain decorum that the proceedings could begin.
Once they were in the accused’s box, the judge called out their names and as the cops removed their masks, lawyers and the general public at the back even stood up on chairs to catch their glimpse. Initially, both simply nodded their heads when the judge asked them if they had to say anything.
Later, the government pleader Desai requested the court for addition of section 376(DA) (punishment for gangrape on woman under 16 years of age), 376(2)(m) (commit rape repeatedly on same woman) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 6 and 8 of amended Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act considering the seriousness of the crime.
Assistant commissioner of police D S Chauhan, who is the investigating officer, then requested for the custody for 14 days. Chauhan told the court that the duo has to be taken to BJ Medical College Ahmedabad for further medical tests and the reconstruction of the crime also has to be done.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)