Youth jailed 13 years after whistling at girls

Whistling at school-going girls 13 years ago has proved costly for Ajai Bhurji, a resident of Chibramu locality in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj district, about 200 km from here.

He was on Friday sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by a local court for an incident that took place in August 2001.

According to prosecution lawyer Chedilal Gautam, Ajai had been caught by a police constable at Chibramu after he whistled at girls who were going to school on August 24, 2001.

The constable brought him to the police station. He was subsequently booked and sent to jail. He was freed on bail a few days later.

After a charge sheet was filed, the trial continued to 13 years. The district court announced its verdict on Friday.

The court said there was ample evidence to prove that the accused had committed the offence.

Besides imprisonment,  Ajai was also fined Rs 1,000, failure to pay which would result in an additional 15 days' imprisonment, the court ruled.

A visibly shocked Ajai said he had never imagined he would be convicted. “I thought I would be acquitted,” he said, despite admitting that had whistled at the girls. He sounded apologetic.

Ajai’s lawyers were undecided on challenging the order as he has already spent several days in jail after arrest, and might come out after spending a few more days in prison.