Shelter Homes Horror: Accused's driver leads CBI to buried skeleton in Bihar

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) unearthed a human skeleton at a cremation site on Wednesday in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district. The investing body conducted the excavation in connection with the alleged rape and torture of as many as 34 girls at a state-run shelter home in the district.

CBI was acting on the information provided by the driver who worked for Brajesh Thakur, the main accused in the case. Thakur worked with the NGO that operated the controversial shelter in Muzaffarpur.

"Some human remains have been found at 'muktidham'," an officer said, "It could be one of the missing girls. A DNA test will be conducted to ascertain more details about the deceased. The spot was pointed out by Thakur's driver; he will be interrogated further."

Police had carried out excavation work twice before around the shelter home after at least three residents said they had seen their friend, who had protested the atrocities there, being murdered. Senior Superintendent of Police Harpreet Kaur, who led the excavation, said no remains were found then. An officer said this skeleton could be victim the girls were talking about.

The Muzaffarpur home came into the spotlight following a social audit of state-run shelter homes in May. The atrocities uncovered at the home triggered a nationwide uproar over institutional rapes.