The Haryana Government on Tuesday handed over to CBI the Mewat’s double-murder case and alleged gangrape of two girls in which the victims had alleged the role of cow vigilantes in the State.
The probe in the incident has been transferred to the CBI, official sources said here.
The Manohar lal Khattar Government had come under severe criticism and public outrage, following the brutal incident last month. Though one of the rape victims had been alleging that the accused were members of some cow-vigilante group, police have so far not corroborated the victim’s allegation.
On August 28, Haryana Police had arrested four youths in connection with murder of a couple and gang-rape of two girls after the accused had barged into the family's
house in the wee hours on August 25 in Dingerheri village in Mewat district.
On the fateful night, the assailants had first killed the couple, who were 40 years of age, with sharp edged weapons and then injured six other members of the family, all of whom were sleeping in the house, located near the fields in the village. They had also ransacked the house, an isolated structure located in the middle of farmland, and fled with some valuables including cash, police had said earlier.
Among the injured included two women, who were gangraped by the assailants. They were relatives of the couple, according to police.
After committing the crime, the accused had tied the injured with ropes and escaped from the spot. Some residents living nearby found the injured after which the police had been informed about the incident.
The family of the victims had alleged that they had informed the police personnel about the cow vigilantes but they chose to ignore it.
One of the two rape victims had recently claimed, “They (attackers) asked us 'you eat cow meat'. We said 'no'. They then said 'you eat cow meat'. They said 'we are killing you because you eat cow'… We had told this to the police but they are not doing anything,” said the victim.
After the incident last month, Haryana Police had formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case. An FIR dated August 25 was registered under Sections 459/460/302/376D/396/397 of the IPC, 6 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at Police Station Tauru.
However, allegations were leveled against the State Police for trying to save the accused in the case.
A Government spokesman on Tuesday said that keeping in view the demand of the complainant and sentiments of public at large, it was decided to transfer the investigation to the CBI. Earlier, the case was being investigated by the special investigation team of Nuh police, he said.
The Chief Minister Manohar lal has given approval to the proposal of CBI inquiry into the case, added he.
A day before, BSP president Mayawati had lashed out at Haryana Chief Minister for terming the Mewat gang-rape and double-murder case a "small issue" and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take note of "anti-woman" mentality of a "person occupying such a high post".
Congress and INlD had also criticised the Chief Minister for the statement.