Mumbai: Girl allegedly killed for refusing to offer prayers
The Bombay HC has directed Mumbai Police to expedite its probe into the death of a girl, allegedly killed by relatives for refusing to read a holy book and offer prayers. It asked the police to file a report of its investigation. A bench of Justices RM Savant and Revati Mohite-Dere directed Antop Hill police to record the supplementary statement of the victim's father.
The HC bench was hearing petition by victim's father
The bench was hearing a petition filed by her father, Hussain Qureshi, seeking the transfer of the probe to another agency. Qureshi told the court that he felt that the police would arrest him too, and therefore, sought protection. A widower, Qureshi told the court that while he was out for work, his brother and sister-in-law used to take care of his 15-year-old daughter.
Girl was adopted by uncle and aunt: Additional Public Prosecutor
On May 4, Qureshi was informed by his brother that the girl had died after falling in the bathroom. Additional Public Prosecutor Aruna Pai, however, told the court that the victim had been adopted by her uncle and aunt (Qureshi's brother and sister-in-law) after her mother's death. Pai said the girl was brought dead to Sion hospital by her relatives.
Victim might have been strangulated to death: Pai
Initially, the police registered a case of accidental death, but the post-mortem report revealed some ligature marks on the victim's neck suggesting she had been strangulated, Pai said. "Following its initial probe, the police came to the conclusion that the girl had been strangulated to death by her uncle and aunt after she refused to read the holy book and offer prayers," Pai said.
Qureshi allegedly refused to take narco analysis test
While the accused relatives have been arrested for murder, police are still probing whether Qureshi had any role to play in the incident. Pai told the court the prosecution sought the trial court's permission to conduct a "narcoanalysis test" on Qureshi to find out the truth but he had refused to appear for it. Qureshi, however, claimed he never refused the test.
Police's version of my daughter's death seems far-fetched: Qureshi
Qureshi alleged the police's theory of the victim being killed over prayers seemed far-fetched. At this, the bench observed that the case was sensitive in nature and required utmost attention. It directed Qureshi to visit the concerned police station to give his supplementary statement. "On what basis have you arrived at this conclusion? We will need a report," the bench asked the prosecution.
HC likely to hear the matter on June 29
"After the supplementary statement is recorded, we expect the investigating agency to carry out a fair and proper probe," the bench said. "We also expect that all such requisite measures required to be taken during...the investigation will be taken at the earliest...the incident occurred over a month back. We expect a report from the investigating agency on the next date of hearing," it said.
