SIT TO PROBE DEATH OF WOMEN POLICE STATION HEAD

The Sahibganj police constituted a five-member special investigation (SIT) team into the recent death of Rupa Tirkey, officer in-charge of women’s police station in the district, officials said Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Opposition and tribal bodies demanded a CBI enquiry into the case.

Tirkey (26) was found hanging inside her official quarters at police line in Sahibganj Monday night. Superintendent of police (SP) Anuranjan Kispotta said, “We have set up a five-member special investigation team, comprising two deputy superintendents of police, one inspector and two sub-inspectors to probe the case. We are waiting for the postmortem examination report. I have requested the doctors to provide it at the earliest.”

According to Tirkey’s roommate, the quarters’ door was locked from inside when she returned home from duty around 8.30pm on Monday. When the door was broken, Tirkey was found hanging in a room, she told the police.

Even though police said prima facie it appeared to be case of suicide, Tirkey’s family members, who live in Ranchi’s Ratu area, suspected murder. Her mother Padmawati Orain on Tuesday lodged a complaint with Sahibganj police station, alleging that Tirkey was being tortured by two female police officials.

Former CM and BJP leader Babulal Marandi Tuesday evening tweeted a copy of Padmawati’s complaint and demanded CBI enquiry into the case. “...I would request CM Hemant Soren that the postmortem examination be conducted by senior doctors of medical college and the case be immediately handed over to CBI,” he said.

Ranchi’s Hatia legislator Naveen Jaiswal also wrote a letter to the CM minister on Wednesday for the same. Several tribal outfits in the state also demanded proper investigation into the case. Former Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) member Ratan Tirkey requested the CM, home secretary and director general of police that the case should not be probed as a case of suicide, as “circumstantial evidences tell a different story”.