CBI questions police over custodial death of accused

SHIMLA: A week after it speeded up investigations in the sensational rape and murder of a 16-year-old school girl, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned Himachal police and members of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) over the custodial death of Suraj, who died at Kotkhai police station on July 18.

The CBI team, which has been camping in Shimla for the last two weeks, has questioned the sentry, munshi and the station house officer of the Kotkhai police station, who was present in the police station at the time of Suraj’s death. The cops, however, have blamed Raju, who is another accused in the case, for his death.

The CBI sleuths are reportedly unconvinced with the police theory that Suraj was killed during a scuffle with Raju in the cell. The sentry on guard, who is considered the prime witness in to the custodial killing, has repeatedly been questioned by the investigators of premier agency.

At the time when Suraj died in police custody, there were around 10 cops in the police station.

Suraj’s death had flared up widespread protest triggered by the rape and murder of the girl. Angry mob set ablaze the police station in Kotkhai on July 19 as the news of Suraj’s death spread.

Director general of police Somesh Goyal shifted the entire thana from Kotkhai to police lines while three officials — munshi, SHO and sentry on duty — were later suspended on charges of dereliction of duty.

After the custodial death, police sent inspector general of police Zahur Zaidi and the then district police chief DW Negi to ascertain the circumstances that resulted in the death.

The CBI has questioned as to why the accused were kept in the same cell and what was the sentry doing when the ‘scuffle’ broke out between the two. The police theory of a scuffle leading to death has been contradicted by Suraj’s wife Mamta also, who has alleged that torture as the cause of death. Suraj’s autopsy had concluded that he had died of multiple injuries and had torture marks on his body.

The CBI team, which took over the investigations on July 22, re-examined his body after a week. The forensic experts recorded details in Suraj’s body that apparently provided sleuths vital clues.

CBI after taking over investigation had set up two numbers for gathering more details about the sensational case. “We are constantly getting information about the murder and probing those angle also, said CBI spokesperson RK Gaur to Hindustan Times. He, however, refused to divulge more details. CBI will file additional status report before the high court on August 17.