Cops may face heat if conductor set free

GURGAON: After the CBI arrested a Class 11 student for killing eightyear-old Ryan International School student, the Gurgaon police is likely to face the heat for arresting a 42-year-old bus conductor in connection with the case.

Ever since the police arrested conductor Ashok Kumar on September 8, his family had been alleging conspiracy and coercion for implicating him in the matter.

“He is a very docile man who cannot harm anyone. All people in the village know him. He was framed in the case by the police and may be the school management as well. We are happy that he will be set free,” said Mamta, Kumar’s wife.

She said he was forced to confess to the crime before the media. Kumar had, however, denied the charges before a court in Gurgaon.

“We will wait for the CBI to file its report and then decide further action. We will file a defamation case against the police if Kumar emerges innocent, which he will,” said Mohit Verma, Kumar’s lawyer.

The Gurgaon police had bookedkumarunderpocsoact for trying to sexually assault a minor before murdering him. Pradyumn Thakur was found with his throat slit on September 8 morning in a toilet of Ryan International School, Bhondsi.

The CBI has ruled out sexual assault in the incident.

DGP Haryana, BS Sandhu, said it is premature to reach to any conclusion. He said the probe

was handed over to the CBI while the Gurgaon police was still investigating the case.

“The SIT (of Gurgaon police) was doing its best but since the probe was transferred midway, there may be some missing links in the investigation,” he said.