CHENNAI: A Fast Track Court (FTC) here has awarded life imprisonment to K Ramraj, a retired army officer, who shot dead 13-year-old boy Dilshan of Indira Gandhi Nagar on July 3 last year. The prosecution has proved the murder charge against the accused beyond reasonable doubt, FTC-V judge R Radha observed on Friday. The judge also imposed a total fine of `60,000 on Ramraj. Of this amount, `50,000 should be given to K Kalaivani, the mother of the victim, towards compensation, the judge added. Ramraj was also sentenced to three years’ simple imprisonment (SI) for an offence under section 27 of the Indian Arms Act and one more year SI under sections 25(1)(B)(a) and (h) of the Arms Act. The sentences will run concurrently, the judge said.When the judge asked him if he had anything to say about the sentence before the order was pronounced, Ramraj said, “I am innocent. I have served in the Army for 40 years. A false case has been foisted on me.” His advocates said they would appeal against the FTC order.Dilshan was shot dead when he attempted to pluck almonds from a tree inside the compound of the Old Fort Glacis Army Officers’ Enclave near Secretariat, along with two of his friends. The prosecution case was that Ramraj, who had retired from service on April 30, 2011, and was allowed to stay in the enclave for three more months, was infuriated when he saw the boys and had warned them several times earlier.When he saw Dilshan inside the compound, Ramraj opened fire from his rifle in a fit of rage. The bullet hit Dilshan on the head and the boy succumbed instantaneously. A police complaint was filed soon. Ramraj was arrested on July 10 2011.
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