Judicial probe just an eyewash: Dead cop’s father

RANCHI: Buckled under pressure mounted by several tribal organisations and opposition parties, the Jharkhand government has set up a judicial probe into the mysterious death of Sahibganj women’s police station officer-in-charge Rupa Tirkey.

Twenty six-year old Tirkey was found hanging inside her official quarter at police line in Sahibganj on May 3 night. According to police investigation made so far, Tirkey’s friend and sub-inspector Shiv Kumar Kanaujia allegedly harassed her, which led to her death by suicide. Kanaujia has been arrested in this case.

Jharkhand’s main opposition party BJP, however, doubted the police investigation alleging that Tirkey was murdered. A party delegation recently on June 6 met Governor Draupadi Murmu, demanding CBI probe into the matter. Besides, several tribal organisations have demanded an independent probe into the case.

Chief minister Hemant Soren Tuesday ordered a judicial probe for which a one-man commission headed by Justice (retired) VK Gupta was set up. The commission has been asked to submit its report within six months. However, the ongoing investigation of the case by special investigation team will continue. The commission will submit its report to the government.

Tirkey’s father Devanand Oraon, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the move. “Setting up a judicial inquiry is just an eyewash. My daughter will not get justice by this. I don’t have trust on police investigation through which my daughter’s murder was converted into a case of death by suicide. I want an independent probe by the CBI so that real truth can come to the fore,” Oraon said.

Oraon has also filed a petition before the Ranchi high court, seeking CBI probe into his daughter’s death. He has stated that his daughter was killed and hanged by the accused. He has alleged that his daughter was harassed by some of her colleagues at the instance of Pankaj Mishra, a representative of local MLA, and another person Dahu Yadav.

Oraon’s lawyer Rajiv Kumar said on Wednesday, “What is the relevance of a judicial inquiry into a murder case? We have seen the fate of judicial probe into the appointment scam in Jharkhand legislative assembly. A judicial commission was set up way back in 2010 in this matter, but it is still inconclusive. In the process, two judges died, but the inquiry was not completed.”

Meanwhile, state BJP state president Deepak Prakash said his party totally disagreed with the government’s move. “We oppose this move. Setting up judicial probe shows the government’s intension is not good. It only wants to hush up the case. A commission has no power to book the accused. It can’t ensure punishment to the guilty. It will submit its report to the government, which may accept it or reject it,” Prakash said. He added, “BJP has been demanding a CBI probe. The state police is trying to give a different colour to this case, as it involves people at the helm of power.”