Shimla gangrape-murder: Shimla IG, SP transferred

An accused in Kotkhai rape and murder case, Suraj Singh (29), was allegedly murdered by prime-accused Rajender Singh in lock up at the Kotkhai police station on Wednesday

After custodial death one of the accused in Kotkhai police station lock-up, the state government late Wednesday transferred seven officers, including the special investigation team (SIT) chief.

A police station in Kotkhai, near Shimla, that was set on fire by protesters on Wednesday. (Deepak Sansta/HT)

Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Zahur Haidar Zaidi, who was the inspector general (IG) southern range, has been transferred and is now IG (welfare and administration), Shimla police headquarter. Zaidi was the head of the SIT that was investigating the rape and murder case that has enraged Himachal residents. Zaidi claimed to have cracked the case on July 13, but went on leave after people questioned the arrests.

IG (central range) Ajay Kumar Yadav will now hold the additional charge of IG (southern range).

Shimla superintendent of police (SP) DW Negi, a Himachal Pradesh Police Service (HPS) officer and member of SIT, has been transferred and is now SP state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, Shimla. Sirmour SP Soumya Sambasivan (IPS) has been posted as the new Shimla SP.

Another member of SIT, Bhajan Dev Negi, has been ordered to report at the police headquarters in Shimla, till further orders. IPS officer Rohit Malpani, who was posted as Kinnaur SP, has been posted as the SP of Sirmour.

Additional IG (police headquarters) Gurdev Sharma has been transferred and is now the Kinnaur SP.

An accused in Kotkhai rape and murder case, Suraj Singh (29), was allegedly murdered by prime-accused Rajender Singh in lock up at the Kotkhai police station on Wednesday. The case has triggered violent protests in Kotkhai town, where a mob pelted stones on cops and set the police station on fire.