Gurgaon residents block expressway,seek speedy probe into CJM wife death

Geetanjali was found dead with bullet injuries in a park in the high-security Police Lines area of Gurgaon last month. Although police initially said it appeared to be a case of suicide,her family alleged that she was murdered.

Led by Geetanjali’s father Omprakash Agrawal,the protesters marched for more than four hours. They went to the Civil Lines administrative wing,to the local BJP headquarters,from there to District Sessions Judge Shekhar Dhawan’s residence and the Police Commissioner’s office. The march culminated with a candlelight vigil at Rajiv Chowk.

“The Gurgaon Police are responsible for the slow pace of investigation… We have been demanding a fair probe. More than 14 days after she died,the police are yet to find a single piece of evidence,” Agrawal alleged.

As protesters pasted posters on the District Sessions Judge’s residence demanding justice,Geetanjali’s family went inside with a three-page memorandum detailing the alleged ‘harassment’ she had suffered. As the judge was not present at that time,the memorandum was submitted to the judge’s family.

The protesters blocked all roads on the expressway at Rajiv Chowk for more than an hour,leading to a massive traffic jam. Candles were placed on the road and the protesters formed a human chain chanting slogans. Hundreds of policemen were deployed to control the crowd.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Satender Duhan,arriving at the scene,tried to pacify the crowd and urged them to disperse. But the protesters,including members from Geetanjali’s family,refused to budge,saying that they were ready to be arrested.

All India Lawyers’ Association member Rajesh Pathak and Geetanjali’s sister Gargi Bansal urged the administration to wake up and expedite the investigation.

Geetanjali’s family found support in her school and college friends,who travelled from Ambala and Panchkula to join the protest. “Geetanjali was not the kind of person who would commit suicide. She was way too strong. Extremely sharp,she would speak her mind about social issues in school. Everyone was in awe of her confidence,” Geetanjali’s friend from Dua National Model School (Ambala) Nitin Sharma said.

“She had a strong opinion on various social issues. In the past one year,she had expressed her desire to open an NGO for women… A person like her can never commit suicide,” Geetanjali’s childhood friend Shipra Davar said.

The protest saw the support of Gurgaon residents and groups like the All India Lawyers’ Union (Gurgaon and Mewat committee) and Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Janvadi Samiti (ABMJS).