CBI inspects crime spot in Kotkhai

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 24

The CBI today inspected the spot of rape and murder of the minor girl in Haliala forest in Kotkhai and also questioned two persons, a Nepali and an old orchardist. The CBI is working on two theories, the version of the case given by the police and the objections and doubts raised by the people regarding the probe.

The team reportedly inspected the vehicle (pick-up) in which the minor was given lift and also tried to ascertain that whether the screams could be heard in the nearby residential huts from the spot of crime.

The CBI team is also trying to ascertain that the spot from where the body is recovered is the spot of crime or not. The CBI team in Shimla met DGP Somesh Goyal and he assured them of all possible help, including the logistic support for the case. The team perused the official records in the twin cases of rape and murder of a minor girl in Kotkhai and custodial killing of an accused Suraj.

Sources said the news clippings of the case published from July 5 to 23 were also scrutinised. The body of the deceased Suraj, who was killed in police lock-up in Kotkhai, was not released to the relatives. The CBI wants to re-examine the body but the team has not visited the IGMC mortuary where the body has been kept since July 19.