The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl at Kaliaganj in West Bengal's Uttar Dinajpur district on April 20. Hearing a petition filed by the victim's father, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha ordered formation of the SIT comprising a retired additional director of the CBI, a former IG-rank officer of the West Bengal Police and a special commissioner of Kolkata Police to investigate the unnatural death of the 17-year-old. The court directed that retired CBI officer Upen Biswas, who had headed the fodder scam case probe, former IG Pankaj Dutta and special commissioner (I) of Kolkata Police, Damayanti Sen, will comprise the SIT. The team will conduct the probe under the direct supervision of the High Court, the judge said. Justice Mantha also issued an embargo on the SIT members not to discuss anything related to the case in public domain. Both Biswas and Dutta appear regularly on television news channels and target the state government during debates. While passing the order, Justice Mantha also authorised the SIT to arrange for a second autopsy of the victim if the team members deem that to be necessary. He further directed the state police to hand over all the documents related to the case, including the case diary, to the SIT at the earliest. The police have also been directed to present their preliminary investigation report in the matter before the next date of hearing scheduled on June 28. The bench also directed the police to make security arrangements for the victim's family.
