Kandasamy Ramaraj claims he is innocent and will appeal against the verdict in Dilson case
A fast track court here on Friday sentenced retired Army officer K. Ramaraj to life for the murder of a 13-year-old boy in July last for trespassing into an army residential compound here.
Ramaraj on July 3, 2011 opened fire on Dilson, who, along with a group of boys from a neighbouring slum, sneaked into Old Fort Glacis Officers' Enclave near Island Grounds to pluck some fruits.
The Fifth Fast Track Court Judge, R. Radha, held Ramaraj guilty of murder under Section 302 and screening or concealing evidence under Section 201 of IPC and provisions of the Arms Act.
Besides the life sentence, the court sentenced him to undergo three year's imprisonment for offences under the Arms Act. The sentences will run concurrently. The court also slapped a fine of Rs. 60,000, of which Rs. 50,000 is to be paid to Dilson's mother Kalaivani as compensation.
Ms. Radha said, “The death of the boy due to fire arms injury is established by the prosecution through ocular evidence and recoveries from the scene of crime.”
“The cumulative circumstances let in by the prosecution lead to the irresistible conclusion that it is this accused who did the crime and tried to screen the same. Further, from the oral and documentary evidence…, the prosecution has established that the accused had opened fire, causing the death of Dilson,” the judge said. She noted that there was no valid licence then for the rifle used in the crime.
The Fort police initially registered a case but the investigation was transferred to the Crime Branch-CID. The CB-CID, which arrested Ramaraj, said in its charge sheet that he was allowed to occupy a house at Officers' Enclave on Flag Staff House Road for three months after he retired from service on April 30, 2011.
He was allotted a rifle with description of .30 BA Springfield NSP while in service. Its licence expired on March 12, 2008, but he applied for renewal only on November 29, 2010.
Dilson 13, residing at C Block, Indira Gandhi Nagar, Pallavan Salai, opposite Island Grounds, and his friends Sanjay and Praveen used to enter the residential enclave for picking or collecting almonds from the garden. They were warned or and chased out of the premises by watchmen on some occasions.
Last July, at about 1.30 pm, Dilson scaled the compound wall of the quarters, while Sanjay stood on the wall and Praveen was on the pavement outside the compound. Infuriated on seeing the boys, the retired officer, who had warned Dilson and his friends in the past, opened fire from his rifle from the balcony of his residence situated 100 feet away.
When the judge asked Ramaraj if he had anything to say on the quantum of sentence before the verdict was pronounced, he said he was innocent and did not want to say anything else.
For Ms. Kalaivani, happiness over the verdict was tempered by the sorrow of her irreparable loss.
“After several days, we have got justice. Monetary compensation is not a big matter, but what is more important is that justice has triumphed at last,” she said.
She added: “No amount of compensation can make good the loss of my son, who was very intelligent and will not return again.”
Ramaraj later said, “I will file an appeal in due course.”
That's a nice post.
I fully concur with the forthright views expressed by Shri B.S.Kumar in
this context.
The quantum of punishment seems excessive for what appears to have been an
unplanned murder in a fit of rage. Let's assume another person were to commit murder in
cold-blood, having planned it meticulously. How will the law then distinguish these two if
they both get the same sentence? Is there no distinction in the eyes of the law then?
What's even more worrying is the cheering of the "punishment" in this comment section. It
bodes ill for the kind of society we live in when a punishment meted out another human,
however heinous the crimes he committed may have been, is greeted with cheer.
No amount of compensation can heal the wounds of Dilson's family. Some people here seem to equate a young boy's pranks with thievery and robbery. How idiotic and heartless have we become? Boys will be boys and many of us have taken part in such little adventures in our young days. Fruit growing on trees is a minor temptation and a gift of nature. Let's not be so small minded as to equate boys stealing fruit from others' gardens to some sort of crime that merits heavy punishment. The crime of bringing out a lethal weapon against this sort of silly "threat" is a much more real problem. We're talking about a full grown adult here, with rank bad judgment, not a glorious military officer who reacted when he was attacked. Unauthorized entry my foot! If our military cannot put up with our young boys in their natural behaviour, what in this nation are they defending?
Why only Rs. 60,000 compensation? He must not only be stripped away with his former army rank title but also be made to part with his entire savings to the affected family for such a henious crime.
INR 5 crore each to those killed by Italians in Kerala State; INR 50,000
for Dilshan? What kind of justice is this?
It was more than a cold blooded murder.The way the retired army officer had shot the little boy was really heartrending.The rule of eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth should have been awarded instead of life imprisonment to the murderer,for he deserves it and no longer to be alive.He took the life a boy with a gun, merely for entering into his premises for collecting almonds is really shocking.
Is the price of life of a boy only Rs 50,000? What a shame?
The army officer's act was inhuman. He deserves maximum punishment.
People should know how to behave in public - children, women, old
people, sick people - our approach has to be one with kindness. They
also will have children and after some time grand children. Showing our
irritation has to be in an accepted manner. In fact, he even does not
deserve to be a military man. A person who cannot show gentleness to a
boy, how can he love his country and think he has served the nation. It
is shame.
justice will always prevails.
An Indian Retd. Officer (Lt Col)shot a boy inside India, our court levied a fine of Rs.60,000.even less than 100000 INR.
See this case and the value of a human life.
Italy has agreed to pay nearly $200,000 to each of the families of two dead Indian fishermen allegedly shot by Italian marines who mistook them for pirates.
It’s pretty shame that the value of a human life differs by the place, financial status and how he/she missed the precious life in this country.
I need to understand the formula that courts adopt while calculating the compensation amount. Few days back a judge was given a compensation of some lakhs of rupees just for missing a flight. In this case where a life has been lost, clearly much much greater loss than missing a flight, the compensation has been just 50,000. What a pity.
That was quick correct verdict.Great.But what about Kasab the mass
murderer.
Well, it is a good judgment. However, is our legal system is preaching that it is ok to enter someone's premises and grab what ever is over there? If that is ok, what about entering someone's house and open their locker to grab their money? I am not saying the judgment is not correct. My point here is what is the demarcation line here imposed by our legal system? Is it that the legal system want to keep it that way so that no one knows which is correct and which is not? What is the message that is being transmitted with this judgment to the public?
While welcoming the courts verdict, the fact remains that no one
should enter the otherwise protected area which is also a strictly
"NO UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY ZONE "for outsiders.
After so many years of service to the nation he was leading a retired
life seeking some peace and privacy to which he is definitely entitled
to within the four walls of his quarters.See his fate now.
Such boys making unauthorized entries should immediately be stopped by
the parents also instead of crying hoarse after such tragedy happens.
It seems these boys have been regular unauthorized visitors for
plucking fruits which can otherwise be termed stealing fruits.
The Officer who shot the young lad could have asked his sentries to
chase away the boys after warning them of imprisonment if seen again
in future.
The boys took their usual pranks for granted and the avoidable death
happened.
Let this be an eyeopener to the Public and also to the defense
authorities so that such unfortunate incidents are avoided.
for once it is heartening to see justice meted out fairly and quickly. no amount of punishment will ever bring back dilson's life.
Tamil Nadu Police and Law enforcement authorities should be hailed for a fair judgement to the victims families. This shows Selvi Jeyalalithaa's determination and aplly of Rule of Law to all equally!
one should not be suprised if High Court Acquits the accused...
Had there been AFSPA, this officer would have gone scot-free. Even with credible and hard hitting evidence against Army men involved in murders, encounters and rapes in NE and J&K, nothing can be done because of AFSPA. Are the lives of children, men and women of these states less precious than the ones from other parts of the country. When would India shun these double standards?
Justice done for the death of an innocent....
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