Lucknow:
Under attack over the gang-rape and murder of two cousins in Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, the Akhilesh Yadav government today suspended a senior police official on the district, decided to take action against then District Magistrate (DM) and undertook a massive rejig involving 66 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and 42 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers.
Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan, who faced a volley of questions from reporters in Lucknow, said several facts have emerged in the Badaun incident and it would have been better if the administration had acted promptly.
"SP Badaun (Atul Saxena) has been suspended and decision has been taken to take action against the then district magistrate (Uday Raj Singh). The new DM has taken charge only two days back," he said.
LR Kumar, Superintendent of Police (law and order) in Director General of Police (DGP) headquarters, has been posted as new SP of Badaun district.
The decision to crack the whip was taken at a meeting convened by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and attended by Principal Secretary (Home) Deepak Sighal and DGP A L Banerjee.
In a fresh twist to the Badaun rape and murder case, Mr Banerjee said that according to available inputs rape of one of the victims was not confirmed and property could be one of the motive. (
Badaun Case: Rape of One of the Cousins Not Confirmed, Says UP Top Cop)
"Of the two victims, one was the lone child of her parents. Her father is one of three brothers with limited resources and if she was not alive, it could benefit others. It could be one of the motives. I am not saying that this is the motive," he said.
He claimed that several important facts have come to light in the incident after an examination was conducted by experts.
Referring to recovery of four beer bottles and two glasses from the spot he said, "it may be that the crime has another dimension. Those, who are being talked about, may not be involved. They may be released, but it depends on the investigation. We don't think that one of the victims was raped."
"Two policemen were terminated under immediate circumstances. If there had been any shortcoming then it would be ratified," he added.
Mr Banerjee said that a lot of evidences could have been collected immediately after the incident, but the local police made no extra effort to find them.
He said that the forensic team, which was sent to the spot, was able to collect evidence from there.
Bodies of the two cousins aged 14 and 15 years were found hanging from a tree in Katra Sadatganj village last month, triggering outrage in the state.