In a major twist in the Badaun rape and murder case that is hogging national headlines, the Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday claimed that the rape of one of the two girls, who were found hanging from a tree, was not confirmed by forensic experts and that property could be a motive for the gruesome crime. Badaun SP Atul Saxena was also suspended in this regard.
“The autopsy report pointed out that one of the victims was not raped as alleged in the report by family members,” DGP Al Banerjee said. Revealing the startling finding after 10 days of probe, Banerjee also said that they were ascertaining whether allegations made against the accused in the FIR were true.
“Of the two victims, one was the lone child of her parents. Her father is one of three brothers with limited resources and if she was not alive, it could benefit others. It could be one of the motives. I am not saying that this is the motive,” he said.
Referring to recovery of four beer bottles and two glasses from the scene, he said, “It may be that the crime is of any other type. Those, who are being talked about, may not be involved. They might be released, but it depends on the investigations. We don’t think that one of the victims was raped.”
Banerjee’s assertions came even as the under-attack State government suspended Badaun SP Atul Saxena, decided to take action against the then District magistrate Chandra Prakash and undertook a massive reshuffle involving 66 IAS and 42 IPS officers. lR Kumar, SP (law and order) DGP headquarters, has been posted as new SP of Badaun district.
While admitting that both the DM and SSP of Badaun had shown lethargic approach in handling the incident and that the two would face departmental probe, Banerjee, however, maintained that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted in the case was also looking into the involvement of family members of the victim.
“We are monitoring the movement of family members on the fateful day. Besides, we are also using the electronic surveillance technology to confirm the exact location of family members as well as the victims to create a sequence of events,” he said adding all the arrested five accused and suspects would be subjected to polygraphy and narco analysis tests.
For his part, Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan, too said that several facts have emerged in the incident and it would have been better if the administration had acted promptly.