WIDOW OF ACCUSED KILLED IN CUSTODY SHIFTED TO GOVT SHELTER

The widow of Nepalese national Suraj Singh, who died in police custody after being accused of the rape and murder of a schoolgirl in Kotkhai, was on Saturday shifted from her home to the women’s shelter Nari Niketan in Shimla for security purposes.

Mamta, 22, who was whisked away from her village, Hilaila, after she recorded her statement before a judge in Theog on Friday, was first taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) where she identified the body.

She has been provided round-the-clock security at the Nari Niketan, as the public remains restive and there are also beliefs that Suraj may have been used as a cover-up by the actual culprits.

Suraj was allegedly strangled by another suspect, Rajendra Singh, during a scuffle at the Kotkhai police station on Tuesday night.

The duo were among the

six men arrested for the gangrape and murder of the 16-year-old school girl.

Hailing from Bajuara district in Nepal, Suraj had for

the past four years worked as a daily wager with a leading orchardist in Kotkhai tehsil’s Hilaila village.

PROVIDED ROUNDTHECLOCK SECURITY AT THE NARI NIKETAN IN SHIMLA AS PUBLIC REMAINS RESTIVE