NCW for narco analysis to crack girl's rape-murder

Vijayawada, Feb 11 (UNI) National Commission for Women (NCW) member Nirmala Venkatesh today demanded that narco analysis should be conducted on a hostel warden and her husband to unravel the mystery behind the death of a pharmacy student.

Ayesha Meera was allegedly raped and murdered at a hostel at Ibrahimpatnam, near here, on December 27 last year.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with City Police Commissioner C V Anand, Ms Venkatesh said : ''I have asked the CoP to write a letter to the Karnataka Director General of Police and the Banglore City Police Commissioner to facilitate the test there.'' Ms Venkatesh, who arrived here to conduct a probe into the case, said narco analysis should be conducted on hostel warden Padma and husband Krishna to identify the assailants.

When pointed out that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was opposed to narco analysis, she said : ''I favour the test if the case is not cracked.'' Ruling out ''political involvement'' hampering the probe, the NCW member opposed transferring the case to the CBI. ''I am totally satisfied with the progress of investigation by the local police. I had a meeting with top police officials and came to a conclusion that they can handle the case perfectly,'' she quipped.

''If the test is not conducted, I will take up the matter with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and submit a report to NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas for ensuring justice for the girls' parents.

Ms Venkatesh had visited the hostel, where the girl was murdered.

The girl's parents also had suspicion on the hostel warden and her husband, she said adding, ''I talked to the hosteliers and found that the girl was raped before being killed.'' She said the assailant had left a two-page letter at the scene to mislead police. A gloves was ''tactfully'' used for the murder to avoid finger prints.

UNI CS JJ HS RS1910