Conviction big blow to image of state police: Former DGP

The conviction of eight police personnel, including an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police, in a custodial death case in the infamous rape-murder case of a schoolgirl has dealt a big blow to the image of Himachal Police. “It’s very damaging for the image of the state police. Cases of custodial deaths or violence are rare in Himachal,” said a former Director General of Police.

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He further said there should be no place for violent behavior in the police department. “Himachal police is not known for such behaviour. Even though rare, such incident is bound to hit the image of the force among the public,” he said. The gruesome incident will affect the confidence people have in the functioning of the police. “The conviction will certainly shake up the confidence people have in the functioning of police. But then it’s a rare occurrence and people here are aware of the general behaviour and functioning style of the police. So, I think the faith in the functioning of the police will be restored with time,” the officer said.

Timeline (Custodial death case)

• 4 July, 2017: A 16-year-old girl Gudia, on her way home from school, goes missing.
• 6 July: Her body is found in the Dandi forest in Kotkhai. Police suspects rape and murder.
• 10 July: The government forms a Special Investigation Team for the case.
• 13 July: SIT arrests six individuals
• 14 July: The then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh announces the case would be handed over to the CBI
• 18 July: During an interrogation at the Kotkhai police station, one of the accused, Suraj, dies.
• 22 July: The CBI registers a case in Delhi for gang-rape and Suraj’s death
• 29 August: The CBI arrested eight police personnel, including IG Zahoor H Zaidi in connection with Suraj’s death.
• 16 November: The CBI arrests SP DW Negi in the Suraj death case.
• 13 April, 2018: The CBI arrests one suspect in the rape-murder case.
• 18 June, 2021: Nilu, the accused in the rape-murder case, is sentenced to life imprisonment.
• 18 January, 2025: Eight police personnel convicted in custodial death case