CBI questions police over custodial death of accused

SHIMLA: A week after it speed ed up investigations in the sensational rape and murder of a 16-year-old schoolgirl, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned Him ac hal 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 CB I 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 S ur aj’ s death. The cops, however, have blamed Raju,whoi san other accused in the case, for his death.

The CB I sleuths are reportedly unconvinced with the police theory thatSuraj 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 as certain 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 sen- try 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 Ma mt a 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 CB I 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 setup two numbers for gathering more details about the sensation al case .“We are constantly getting information about the murder and probing those angle also, said CB I spokesperson R KG a ur to Hindu stan Times. He, however, refused to divulge more details. CBI will file additional status report before the high court on August 17.