The two-member National Commission for Women (NCW) Inquiry Committee consisting of Hemlata Kheria and Manasi Pradhan have asked the State’s Director General of Police (DGP) to file a fresh FIR basing on the dying declaration of schoolteacher Itishree Pradhan.
The team when holding meeting with the DGP in connection with the murder case last week had asked him as to why an FIR has not been registered based on the victim’s dying declaration as required under law.
“As per legal precedent, the dying declaration is treated to be the first information report and on the basis thereof investigation commenced, as exemplified in several cases before the Supreme Court including the recent case of Ranjit Singh & Co versus State of Punjab case of Nov 9, 2006,” said NCW member Manasi Pradhan.
Notably, the Chief Secretary, the DGP and the School Education Secretary had appeared before the two-member team on Saturday under Section 10(4) of the NCW Act where they were questioned on action taken by the State Government in the case. The team expressed its displeasure over the failure of the State police to nab the persons who had set the teacher on fire even after three weeks to the incident.
The DGP was too asked to form a special team to nab the killers immediately while, the team asked the Chief Secretary as to why the previous NCW Inquiry Report of last one year were not laid before the State Assembly as required under Section 19(3) of NCW Act 1990.