https://www.india.com/rajasthan/two-rajasthan-cops-accused-of-gang-rape-murder-of-20-year-old-dalit-girl-suspended-6125191/Two Rajasthan Cops Accused Of Gang – Rape, murder of 20-year-old Dalit girl, suspended
The Dalit girl’s relatives have accused three people, including two officers from Khajuwala Police Station, of raping and killing her.
Jaipur: A 20-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped and killed by two Rajasthan Police officers and a third suspect in the Bikaner district of the state. The two accused police officers have been suspended pending further inquiries while the third suspect is being hunted, police said on Wednesday.
The body of the 20-year-old victim was found on Tuesday in the Khajuwala area of Bikaner district, Inspector General of Police (IG) Om Prakash told PTI news agency, adding that the family of the murdered girl included two police officers and accused another person of the heinous crime.
“Her relatives have accused three persons, including two officers from Khajuwala Police Station, of raping the girl. Both police officers have been suspended with immediate effect and the case is being investigated,” said the top police officer, according to PTI.
According to a PTI report, the victim’s family performed a ‘dharna’ to insist on their demand for the immediate arrest of all the accused and have also refused to allow a post-mortem examination of the slain.
A senior police official said police were making constant efforts to convince the murdered girl’s family and relatives to allow an autopsy.
“We are doing our best to persuade them for post-mortem so that the investigation can continue,” PTI Superintendent of Police (SP) Tejaswani Gautam was quoted as saying.
SP Gautam said that a case has been registered in this regard at Khajuwala Police Station under various sections, including 376-D (gang rape), of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The victim’s relatives have alleged that two police officers, Manoj and Bhagirath along with the third suspect took her to the house, where they raped and killed her.
Citing call records, police said the victim and the key defendant knew each other. Meanwhile, the role of the two agents is being investigated.
The case is being investigated by additional SP Deepak Sharma.
BJP criticizes Gehlot government
Meanwhile, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cornered the Ashok Gehlot-led government over the incident.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rajendra Rathore tweeted that the involvement of police officers in the incident of rape and murder of a girl in Khajuwala in Bikaner blots the face of the government.
The officers’ suspension is just a formality, leaving the girl’s relatives angry with the police, he added.
“It is a pity that so far both accused officers have not been arrested. I demand that the state government take firm action against the guilty police officers in this matter and arrest them,” he said.
In Jaipur, Food and Civil Supply Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said the matter is being investigated by the police and action will be taken against the guilty.
(with PTI inputs)