A fast track court in Chennai on Friday gave life imprisonment to a retired army officer who shot dead a 13-year-old boy who tresspassed into army quarters here on July 3 last.
The court found Lt Col (Retd) Kandasamy Ramarajan guilty of murdering Dilshan, a local slum boy who strayed into the army officers quarters to pluck mangoes and awarded life term. It also found him guilty of destruction of evidence, especially concealing the service pistol and possession of illegal firearm and awarded another three years rigorous imprisonment. Both terms will run concurrently.
Police said Dilshan was shot in the head with a Springfield Rifle. A post-mortem examination confirmed the teenager died from a bullet injury to the head. The ballistic report said the shrapnel found from Dilshan's body and the injury matched the ammunition used to fire from the weapon recovered.
The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 60,000 on various counts and directed that Rs 50,000 out of this be paid to Dilshan's mother.
Col Ramarajan's lawyer said he would go in appeal.
A visibly moved Dilshan's mother told reporters that justice had been done to her.
Col(Retd) Ramarajan had come to Chennai on a visit and was staying in the army officers' quarters when the incident happened.
It caused a sensation and the case was entrusted to the Crime Branch CID. The officer was arrested last September. He was in jail for the past seven months and was produced in court when the judgment was pronounced on Friday.
