HC upholds NSA detention

LUCKNOW: The high court here, while dismissing a habeas corpus petition of Ghasi and Chotan alias Rajesh of Lakhimpur Kheri, confirmed their detention under the National Security Act (NSA) for 12 months from the date of their actual detentions under this Act.
The bench, comprising Justice Vishnu Sahai and Justice Kamal Kishore, after hearing the arguments, upheld the detention of both the detenues under the NSA valid and legal.
The petitioners were detained by the then district magistrate Ashok Kumar Singh under the NSA on April 30 last, for disturbing public order by murdering 10-year-old Sofia after committing rape.
On April 10 last at 6 am Sofia had gone along with her brother Zahid Ali to graze the goats where Ghasi and Chotan alias Rajesh took her into sugar cane field of Quasim and after raping, strangulated her to death. The incident created panic among the people of the area under police stations Kheri.