Srinagar Garhwal Police and Medical College Under Scrutiny for Failed Attempt to Cover Up Young Woman’s Murder as Suicide
UMAKANT LAKHERA
About a month ago in Srinagar Garhwal, a young married woman Rita Devi was murdered by her husband, who then tried to cover it up as a suicide. The local police station’s “bravery” in attempting to protect the murderer is noteworthy. The station officer and his team used every trick in the book to shield the culprit but ultimately failed. Adding to the tragedy is the fact that the deceased woman’s father, Shiv Lal, is a retired head constable of the Uttarakhand Police. Shiv Lal pleaded with the station officer, explaining that his 10-year-old grandson had seen his father hit his mother on the head with a cricket bat, causing her death. However, as they belong to the Dalit community, many believe that the station officer showed no human sympathy and tore up Shiv Lal’s two written complaints. Instead, he pressured and threatened him to report the death as a suicide rather than a murder.
The father and relatives of the deceased allege that the police did not detain the murderer but allowed him to remain free so he could “make arrangements” and destroy evidence. Taking advantage of this leniency, the husband went to the Nainital High Court, although he did not receive anticipatory bail.
Three weeks later, when the district police’s ploy was exposed and under increasing pressure, they were forced to present the deceased woman’s son’s statement before a magistrate in Pauri. This statement revealed the collusion between the police station and the post-mortem team at the Srinagar Medical College.
The crucial question remains: why did it take 26 days for the post-mortem report of this murder case to be released? Was the Srinagar Medical College established for such purposes?
Meanwhile, Ganga Asnora, editor of “Regional Reporter” in Srinagar, accomplished what major newspapers and TV channels failed to do. She is to be commended for her dedication, courage, and honest journalism. Rajesh “Pol Khol” Bahuguna was the first to interview the child. After the video of the interview went viral, the police’s web of lies was finally exposed.
