Faizan not a minor: Police


Srinagar, Mar 28: Police on Monday said that radiological examination has put to rest the controversy about the age of a south Kashmir youth arrested for alleged involvement in stone-pelting, proving him more than 17 years, a year more than the minimum age for detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Faizan Rafiq, of Islamabad (Anantnag) town in south Kashmir, was put to radiological tests on March 23 after the family of the youth had claimed that he was 14-years old and should not have been detained under the PSA.

"As per radiological examination, report of X-ray of the above said person (Faizan) reveals radiological bone age between 17 to 18 years," police said.

"In view of combined physical, dental and radiological examination of Faizan Rafiq, his age is more than 17-years and less than 18-years,” the medical board constituted for the purpose said in its report.

The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had been asked about the detention of the "underage boy" several times, had asked for his medical test to ascertain his age.

Police said Faizan's parents had moved two bail applications before the Sessions Judge Anantnag (Islamabad) and Chief Judicial Magistrate Anantnag (Islamabad).

To the satisfaction of Faizan's parents, he was put through a medical test. A board consisting of three medical officers including a radiologist was constituted at Government Medical College Jammu to conduct the test.