Nithari remembers its children

Police had made elaborate arrangements, including posting a riot vehicle, and only the families of the victims were allowed to participate in the havan.

One year after the Nithari killings came to light, the infamous D-5 bungalow is a desolate place, much in contrast to the large crowd that had gathered here, drawn by news of the shocking uncovering of the sexual abuse and murder of children.

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While no one was allowed anywhere near the bungalow that was barricaded and guarded by policemen, the families of the victims performed a havan in memory of the children near the infamous address.

Police had made elaborate arrangements, including posting a riot vehicle, and only the families of the victims were allowed to participate in the havan.

Exactly a year ago, skulls and other bones were recovered from behind the bungalow that later came to be known as the `House of Horrors'.

The bones were those of children from Nithari village who had gone missing.

The owner of the bungalow, businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, and his servant Surinder Koli, was arrested for the killings. The CBI is investigating the matter.

"The CBI is giving a clean chit to Pandher when he has initially confessed of having raped and murdered children," said Ram Kishan, a resident of Nithari, whose child was among the victims.