NCW member admits to 'slapping' during probe

Vijayawada, Feb 11 (UNI) National Commission for Women (NCW) member Nirmala Venkatesh today admitted that she had slapped a hostel warden during the course of an investigation into the mysterious death of a pharmacy student.

Talking to newspersons here, Ms Venkatesh said she was 'frustrated' over the behaviour of warden Padma, when she posed several questions related to the murder and rape of Ayesha Meera. ''The hostelers told me that they suspected the warden's involvement in the case,'' she said.

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

Ms Venkatesh said the warden denied involvement and pleaded innocence.

Stating that the warden and her husband Krishna knew 'everything' about the case, the NCW member said she had directed the police to arrest them.

The warden, instead of informing the police of the murder, had contacted MPTC President Cheruku Madhav Rao.

''The Panchayat President should also be questioned in this connection,'' she said.

She said some women organisations had confided to her at Ibrahimpatnam that truth would come to light if action was initiated agaist the warden.

Ms Venkatesh demanded narco analysis on the warden and her husband to unravel the mystery behind the death.

UNI CS JJ SK PM1949