SSP WRITES TO DGP FOR CBI INVESTIGATION INTO RIOTS

In what could turn out to be a major embarrassment for the state government, Muzaffarnagar senior superintendent of police Praveen Kumar has shot off a letter to DGP Deo Raj Nagar requesting for an independent probe into the communal violence by the central bureau of investigation (CBI) or state agency CBCID. Already the hearing of a petition demanding CBI probe into Muzaffarnagar riot is continuing in the Supreme Court. The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam has sought response from the state government over the petition seeking a CBI, SIT or Judicial Commission probe into the riots. Sources said before going on leave, the SSP Muzaffarnagar handed the letter requesting CBI/ CBCID probe to the DIG, Saharanpur. The DIG in turn forwarded the letter to the DGP. On Wednesday, the SSP was taken ill and is undergoing treatment in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Talking to HT, DGP Deo Raj Nagar, however, said the SSP had requested for a CBI/CBCID probe into the Kaval incident that resulted in communal tension in the area. “FIRs had been registered in the case. After local people alleged that some innocent people had been named in the FIR, the names of some people were removed from after a probe,” he said. An eve teasing incident had led to the killing of three persons --Sahnawaz, Gaurav Mullick and Sachin Mullick -- in Kaval village of Muzaffarnagar on August 27. FIRs and counter FIRs were registered by the family members of the deceased in Jansath police station. The police had taken into custody around one dozen persons allegedly involved in the triple murder. Sources said on the direction of a political party leader of Bijnore, the police had released some of the accused. The then DM and SSP, who objected to the request of the leader, were transferred. Some social and political organizations opposed the release of the murder accused leading to tension in the area. A senior police officer said the SSP Muzaffarnagar wanted a fair probe into the communal violence as well as into the events that led to the riots. When contacted the Home department officials refused to comment on the content of the letter of the SSP.