NCPCR chief accuses Dumka district admin of shoddy investigation into minor girls’ killings

Dumka: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chief on Monday lashed out at the Dumka administration for non-cooperation during the panel’s visit to probe the twin murders of minor girls.
Nearly two weeks back, a Class XII girl was burnt to death by her stalker while last week, another minor girl of the tribal community was killed and hanged from a tree. She was also four months pregnant. In both the incidents, the accused hailed from different communities triggering massive political and social outrage.
NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo tweeted, “We had informed the Dumka administration in advance about the purpose of our visit and it had also given its consent. But when we reached her house, we learnt that her parents and kin were taken away in jeep by some unidentified persons.”
Kanoongo, however, managed to meet and record the statements of the girl’s parents but expressed reservations over “poor” investigation by police. “It appears that the local police are not competent enough for proper investigation into both the murder cases which might have its roots outside the country.”
Citing loopholes in police investigation in regard to murder of the Class XII girl, he said, “The police have not recorded the statement of all of her family members.”
The administration told TOI, “Interim compensation was provided to the mother of the victim (tribal girl) on the date of the incident itself. Efforts were made by the administration to ensure that the Hon'ble Chairperson could meet the family members of the victim.The SDM, Dumka, was personally escorting him for the aforesaid purpose. He could meet the relatives of the victim and her two sisters at Raneshwar.Parents of the victim had gone to Phulo Jhano chowk, Dumka, with some persons where they were made part of the ‘protest’ called by certain organisations against the incident at the time when the Hon’ble Chairman reached their house. After his return to Circuit House, Dumka, it was offered to arrange a meeting with the parents of the victim at Phulo Jhano Chowk, Dumka itself.”
The NCPCR chief took strong exception to the police not booking the elder brother of the accused in connection with the Class XII girl’s murder, who had allegedly threatened her family members after the incident. The rights panel also suspected the role of the mother of the tribal girl, who was found hanging, stating that she was in touch with her the previous night. “The father of the girl lives elsewhere. He should also be interrogated,” he stated.