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CBI starts probe into Kotkhai gangrape-murder case
A special investigation team with an officer not less than the rank SP and two DSPs of police have been ordered by the Himachal Pradesh high court.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday started a probe into the gangrape and murder of a 16-year-old Kotkhai girl.
Two teams of the CBI have reached Shimla. While one team has started investigation in Kotkhai, second team is camping in Shimla. The team is also learnt to have spoken to family members of deceased accused, Suraj Singh, who died in police custody on Wednesday. Suraj Singh, one of the six suspects arrested for gangrape, was allegedly strangled by another suspect, Rajendra Singh, during a scuffle at the Kotkhai police station on Wednesday night.
The Himachal Pradesh high court on July 19 had ordered a CBI probe into the case for which the state government too had requested. A special investigation team with an officer not less than the rank of superintendent of police (SP ) and two deputy superintendent (DSP) of police have been ordered by the HC. CBI was also directed to submit a status report within two weeks.
The Himachal Pradesh government had also transferred an IPS officer who led the controversial probe on Late on Wednesday night. IPS officer Zahur Haidar Zaidi-led SIT had come under criticism after widespread violence over the custodial death of one of the six arrested for the crime.
The girl, a Class 10 student, went missing on her way home from school on July 4 and her naked body was found two days later with injury marks. Since then, her photos have gone viral on social media as hundreds of people have come out on the streets to protest.
Earlier this week, epicentre of the incident – Kotkhai, around 60 kilometres from Shimla – resembled a war zone as a mob of around 3,000 surrounded the police station before setting it on fire and injured several personnel. The police had to fire in the air to disperse the crowd but failed as protesters surrounded the residential quarters of personnel. The entire staff of Kotkhai police station, including the station house officer (SHO) were suspended following the custodial death.
