Investigation still in process in SP killing: ADG

Patna, Jan 29 (PTI) Police today said that probe was stillon into the killing of Munger Superintendent of Police K CSurendra Babu in 2005 and it would go in appeal challengingthe acquittal of the three involved in the case by a localcourt.

"Investigation is still underway in the SP killingcase... we have decided to go in appeal to a superiorcourt against those who have been acquitted in the case",Additional Director General (Headquarters) P K Thakur said.

Thakur''s statement came barely a day after Leader ofOpposition in Bihar assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui described as''hollow'' Chief Minister Nitish Kumar''s claim that state policehad record-breaking performance in netting wrong-doers evidentin the acquittal of all those named in the killing of MungerSP K C Surendra Babu six years ago.

Siddiqui had alleged that the Munger court''s order toacquit the accused exposed the way in which thecriminal-justice administration system was handled by theNitish Kumar government.

The acquittal suggested that the real culprits were theMaoists and the state police had falsely implicated innocentpersons in the case, Siddiqui had alleged.

Thakur said the investigations revealed that around 45to 50 Maoists were involved in the killing of Babu and fiveother policemen at Sonerwa village in Munger district onJanuary five, 2005.

Police had later named 33 accused in the case, out ofthem 13 had been arrested, Thakur said adding while threewere acquitted, the rest ten were still lodged in variousjails and facing trial in the court.