Anti-CAA stir: Minor boy spends 42 days in jail in Lucknow, cops ask him to add years to actual age

A minor boy has spent 42 days in prison in connection with the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Lucknow.

According to a report in Times of India, Cops told him to add years to his actual age. “umar badha ke batao (add years to your actual age)”, forcing him to say he was 18 “out of fear”, his advocates alleged.

Yashab Husain Rizvi, the minor’s advocate stated when he was preparing a reply to a recovery notice served to the minor by Yogi government which sought compensation for damages allegedly caused by the minor, his Aadhaar card revealed his age as 15 years, reported TOI.

Lawyer Rizvi has filed a complaint with police commissioner in Lucknow seeking to enquire why the minor was not tried under the Juvenile Justice Act. He also enquired as to why he was kept in jail instead of a juvenile home. The complaint also urged that Hazratganj police should be tried for illegal action

The minor boy hails from Malda district in West Bengal. He had 15 charges slapped on him, including an attempt to murder and rioting with a deadly weapons.

According to a report in TOI,“They took me to the police station and told me ‘umar badha ke batao.’ So, out of fear, I told them I was 18." He said.

"It is not our prerogative to enquire about the person’s age . It is for the court to determine the age ,” said inspector of Hazratganj police station, Dhirendra Kushwaha.