Fbd killings: Cops nab 3 more, as many absconding

Three more persons have been arrested for their alleged role in setting house of a Dalit family ablaze in Sunped village, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven while four accused were still at large.

Commissioner of Police, Subhash Yadav said: “Seven persons out of total eleven accused named by the family have been arrested so far. We are hopeful to nab other culprits soon.” 

The three accused were held last night. He said the situation in the village was peaceful now. “Further investigations are underway,” he added. Earlier in the day, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited the family of the two Dalit kids, who were charred to death on the night of October 19/20.

Khattar said the incident should not be given a “political or casteist colour”.

Haryana’s Director General of Police Y P Singal has said that as per investigations so far, an old enmity appeared to be the trigger behind the gruesome incident. The Haryana government had on Wednesday recommended a CBI probe into the case, meeting the demand raised by the victim family.

While the children perished in the blaze allegedly set off by some upper caste men who had a running feud with the Dalit family, their mother Rekha, 28, suffered serious burn injuries and was admitted to a Delhi hospital.

Their father Jitender (31), was also injured while trying to save them. The family had named 11 people as accused.

Eight police officials including Inspector Anil Kumar, Officer-In-charge of Sadar Ballagbarh police station have been suspended.

Meanwhile, a team of forensic experts visited the house of the victims. They conducted a thorough search of the room and collected crucial evidence. The room was locked by the police since the incident and Jitender, the father of the slain kids, was shifted to verandah where he takes rest on a makeshift bed. Police teams also questioned Jitender’s neighbour on Thursday.

“Since the accused had allegedly scaled walls and set the house afire by pouring petrol over window, we found it very essential to question neigbours in this case. Some of them may turn out to be eye witnesses,” said an official, who did not disclose further details.