ADG Kanpur zone to head new SIT

THE GIRL, ABOUT 16 YEARS’ OLD, WAS FOUND HANGING AT HER SCHOOL IN SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN 2019.

LUCKNOW : Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Kanpur Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar will head the new six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by UP Director General of Police (DGP) Mukul Goel to investigate the death of a Mainpuri schoolgirl in 2019.

The step comes after the Allahabad high court on Thursday directed the state government to update it on the progress of the probe after one month.

The court had summoned the DGP in the matter while expressing concern over the delay in investigation. The state government had informed the court on Thursday that a new SIT was being formed.

The new SIT comprises inspector general (IG) of UP

Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) GK Goswami, IG Kanpur range Mohit Agarwal, Mainpuri superintendent of police (SP) Ashok Kumar Rai, additional SP of UP ATS Rakesh Yadav and deputy SP of Kanpur Rural Tanu Upadhyaya as its members.

A two-judge bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice AK Ojha passed the order in connection with the Mainpuri case on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one

Mahendra Pratap Singh in connection with death of the schoolgirl in 2019.

The girl, about 16 years’ old, was found hanging at her school in suspicious circumstances in 2019. Her family had alleged that she was sexually assaulted and killed. The court further directed the police authorities to ensure that the family members of the girl are not pressured during investigation and that their safety is ensured.

The petitioner had alleged that police were not fairly investigating the incident and rather they were protecting the actual accused.

An additional superintendent of police (ASP) and a deputy SP were suspended on Wednesday. They were the part of previously constituted SIT to investigate the matter.