CBI arrests IG, 7 cops over accused’s custodial death
Victim’s wife claimed he was tortured to death inside the lockup
: A top Himachal Pradesh police officer was among eight personnel arrested on Tuesday by the CBI which is investigating the custodial death of a Nepali labourer, a suspect in the rape and murder of a minor schoolgirl in Shimla.
Inspector general Zahur Haidar Zaidi was leading the special investigation team looking into the rape and murder of a 16-yearold girl in the Kotkhai area of Shimla in early July before the CBI took over the probe into the crime that shook the hill state and saw massive protests.
“The accused were produced before the court on Tuesday and they have been remanded to police custody till September 4,” CB I spokesman Ab his hek Day al said. The others who were arrested are deputy superintendent of police Manoj Joshi and five personnel of the Kotkhai police station, including in-charge Rajinder Singh, where Suraj Singh was killed allegedly by a co-accused.
All the six suspects in the rape case were lodged in the Kotkhai police station, which was set on fire by angry locals after Singh’s murder. Locals said the probe was botched up and police had not arrested the real accused.
The CBI has not said anything about the role of the policemen in the death of the 29-year-old labourer.. The state government and police faced severe criticism for their handling of the case, as people blocked roads and held candlelight vigils demanding justice for the Class 10 student who was found dead in the woods of Halaila village on July 4.
A close relative of a Himachal Pradesh law officer was a suspect in the rape case, CBI sources said. The CBI took over the probe into the rape-and-murder case and the custodial death on July 22 on the orders of the HC. high court.
SENTRY SPILLED BEANS
Police had blamed Raju, another accused in the case, for killing Suraj. Unconvinced, CBI sleuths questioned the on-duty sentry Dinesh, who is believed to have spilled the beans. There were 10 cops inside the police station when Suraj was allegedly killed.
Suraj’s death had triggered an angry reaction from villagers who set afire the Kotkhai police station on July 19. CBI questioned as to why both the accused were kept in the same cell and what was the sentry doing when the alleged scuffle broke out between Raju and Suraj.
The scuffle theory was also contradicted by Suraj’s wife Mamta who claimed her husband was tortured to death inside the lock-up.