CBI to probe priest murder case

LUCKNOW, JUNE 19: The UP Government today ordered a CB-CID probe into the custodial death of slain priest Brother George Kunjikandam's coo...

LUCKNOW, JUNE 19: The UP Government today ordered a CB-CID probe into the custodial death of slain priest Brother George Kunjikandam’s cook, Vijai Ekka, in Mathura and transferred SSP Chandrika Rai even as the post-mortem report, according to sources, indicated that the cook had been strangulated to death. “Rai has been asked to swap places with the Superintendent of Police (Railways), Moradabad, Ashok Kumar,” a police spokesman here said.

The Principal of St Francis School, Brother Emannuel, has alleged in an FIR that Vijai was beaten to death while in custody. However, the police said the 28-year-old had committed suicide while being interrogated at the police station in connection with the priest’s murder on June 6.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Agra Zone, R R Bhatnagar has ordered a CB-CID inquiry into the incident.

A key witness in Brother George’s murder case, Ekka, was found dead inside Nahrauli police station while in custody. A sub-inspector and a constable have already been arrested in connection with Vijai’s death, he said. Murder charges have been brought against police station officer (SO) Sunil Kumar Sharma and constable Dinesh Upadhyaya, the spokesman said. They were sent to jail today after being produced before a magistrate.

The post-mortem on the cook’s body was conducted by three doctors and, according to reliable sources, he had been strangled. The suspended SO had in a written statement to the police said the cook had committed suicide.

"Vijai Ekka died of asphyxia due to strangulation according to the post-mortem conducted by a team of doctors", Senior Superintendent of Police of Mathura, Ashok Kumar, told PTI on phone.

Home Secretary V K Mittal said that he had been informed telephonically that the death was due to strangulation.

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He said though there was no visible mark of any major injury on the body, some cuts and abrasions were seen but they do not cause death.

Mittal also said a scarf was found tied around Ekka’s neck which was later loosened. The investigation officer would be able to say whether it was a case of suicide or death due to other reasons, he said.

Meanwhile, the CB-CID team, assigned to probe the circumstances leading to Ekka’s death in custody in Naharauli police station, has reached Mathura to investigate the case.