13-member SIT formed to investigate Nithari killings

Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Jan 4 (UNI) A week after the Nithari serial killings hit the headlines and shook the national conscience, a 13-member 'Special Investigation Team' was today formed to probe into the horrendous incident of the city's Sector 31 here.

The team, comprising three Dy SPs, one Inspector and eight Sub-Inspectors and to be headed by Additional Superintendent of Police (Baghpat) Sri Krishna, would investigate into the killings carried out by the accused over the two-year period during which nearly 38 children went missing from the locality.

The SIT would be besides the two-member 'high-powered' team set up by the state government to look into the lapses committed by the police into the incident.

DIG (Meerut Range) S P Singh, while announcing the team said sleuths of all the four closeby districts -- Ghaziabad, Meerut, Baghpat and Gautam Budhha Nagar -- have been included in the team for a comprehensive probe into the ghastly killings.

Meanwhile, a team of forensic experts arrived here this evening to conduct tests at the 'site' of the killings in Nithari village and gather samples on fingerprints, clothes, blood, hair and other 'evidence' recovered from there.

The team, which collected some 'evidence' from and around the 'D-5 killer house' today is likely to stay here for a couple of days.

On the other hand, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today said the Centre was ready for a CBI probe into the Nithari killings provided the State government was ready for it.

Addressing the media after his visit to the Sector 31 Nithari village here, where the serial killings of children took place, Mr Jaiswal said law and order in Uttar Pradesh had dipped to an all time low which was a matter of concern.

Terming the incident unfortunate, the minister said, ''I have come to empathise with the affected families on behalf of the Centre.'' He also visited the 'killer house' and met the families of the victims.

Earlier in the day, younger brother of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and State Public Works Department minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav distributed the additional three lakhs to the victims' families, announced as exgratia to them.

The cheques were given to the 12 families who had received the Rs two lakh cheque earlier. Of the 15 families identified so far, three are yet to receive the exgratia amount.

He said the state police was capable of handling the case well and hence no CBI probe has been ordered by the UP government so far.

Filmstar Raza Murad also met the victims' families and deplored the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Delhi hundreds of children, wearing black ribbons and holding placards, paid tribute to the Nithari victims at the Rajghat -- the 'samadhi' of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi.

They also staged a 'silent march' from Samta Sthal to the Rajghat under the aegis of Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

UNI