Shakarpur Teen Accused of Two Murders to Be Tried as Adult, JJB Rules

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has ordered that a 16-year-old boy accused of committing two separate murders in Shakarpur, East Delhi, will face trial as an adult. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rajeev Kumar confirmed the development, which marks the second such order issued by the board in Delhi in recent months. The board reached the decision after assessing the nature of the offenses committed by the minor.

The first incident occurred on September 23, 2024, when the accused, then aged 15, allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old boy to death in the Shakarpur area. Police reports indicate the attack took place because the victim refused to treat the accused to celebrate a newly purchased mobile phone. Following the fatal stabbing, the police apprehended three boys, including the 15-year-old suspect.

After being released on bail, the teenager allegedly committed a second murder on December 7. The police stated that the boy stabbed a 22-year-old man at the Shakarpur market. The victim had reportedly met with the teenager in an attempt to mediate a conflict. This conflict arose after the teenager allegedly assaulted another youth near the Akshardham metro station on December 6, the day before the stabbing.

Before passing away at a hospital, the 22-year-old victim was able to identify the teenager as his attacker. Following the incident, the minor surrendered before the Juvenile Justice Board on December 8.

To establish the sequence of events, the police collected a wide range of evidence. This included CCTV footage, call detail records, WhatsApp chats, voice recordings, and Google Maps location data. Investigators also recovered the knife allegedly used in the stabbing, as well as the clothes the teenager was wearing at the time of the attack.