Brinda Karat demands CBI probe into Khairlanji massacre

Nagpur, Nov 9 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) politbureau member Brinda Karat has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the Khairlanji massacre incident saying the police probe into the killing of four members of a ''Dalit'' family was ''polluted, prejudiced and devoid of credibility''.

Addressing a press conference here this evening after returning from a visit to Khairlanji, Ms Karat said policemen and doctors involved in the probe should be prosecuted for dereliction of duty and attempt to shield the accused.

The case must tried before a fast-track court and a special public prosecutor must be appointed to hold the brief for the prosecution, Ms Karat said.

Although 44 people, including two women, have been arrested in the case, none had been booked for rape and torture, Ms Karat pointed out. The claim that the two women, who were among the four to be killed, had not been raped was a deliberate attempt to hush up the case and protect the suspects, she alleged.

The witnesses in the case were getting threats, she alleged, and demanded that they be provided protection.

Ms Karat said she would shortly meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange, head of the family whose members were killed, and Siddarth Gajbhiye and Rajendra Gajbhiye, relatives of the family, so that they could apprise Dr Singh of their sufferings. Her party would raise the issue in the forthcoming session of Parliament, she said.

Decrying the state government's claim that the recent violence during protests against the Khairlanji incident was the handiwork of Naxalites, Ms Karat said it showed that Maharashtra ministers were ''mentally deranged''. The state government was only trying to hide its own inefficiency, she said, and demanded to know what evidence it had while making the claim. The reaction from the ''Dalits'' was obviously aggressive after they found that no action was being taken even a month after the incident, Ms Karat said.

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