Inquiry finds Mathura police hand in missionary's cook's death

Inquiry finds Mathura police hand in missionary's cook's death
AMRITPAL SINGH

MATHURA, AUGUST 29: It’s been two months since Brother George Kuzhikkadam, a Christian missionary, was killed in Mathura. Despite five inquiry commissions looking into the case, there is no indication that the murderers will be identified or nabbed.

Even though the Uttar Pradesh CID (Crime Branch) has submitted a report indicting the Mathura police of illegally detaining and later murdering Vijai Ekka, the cook of Kuzhikkadam who was reportedly a witness to his murder, the state government has taken no action against the guilty. Of the 12 policemen held guilty in the report, 2 have been earlier arrested on the basis of an FIR accusing them of murder. The rest of them are free, and are serving.

Principal Secretary (home) V K Mittal, who at the time of Ekka's death had said that the inquiry into the matter, would be over in a week, told The Indian Express today, ``We are waiting for the judicial commission's inquiry report.''

SSP CID, Anil Raturi says the report regarding the role of local police in the cook's murder has been submitted to the home department. ``For the priest's case we have sought time of three months more. The chargesheet in the case shall be filed on completion of the statutory 90 days period,'' he said

Meanwhile the judicial inquiry commission headed Justic Palok Basu at Mathura and Agra has increased the date for filing of affidavits by any person from the public, till August 31. Refusing to divulge specific details Justice Basu, told The Indian Express, ``The commission till now has procured several important documents related to the case. Six affidavits have been filed by public and there are two or three adjournments also. We will record evidence in the matter till September 14 and submit our report to the government by September 31.''

Brother George, who was heading a missionary school on the outskirts of Mathura, was clubbed to death on the night of June 6. Police attributed the murder as the incidental fallout of a dacoity bid. Few days later the priest's cook, who had reportedly made contradictory statements about witnessing the murder, was found dead in police custody. The police had said given the ``highly doubtful'' version of his death, he could have strangulated himself with his own hands. However, the school's principal where the cook was working lodged a FIR accusing the police of his murder.

Christian organisations had then accused the police of trying to shield the murderers.

Following this the UP government had ordered a judicial inquiry. Mathura district police chief, Chandrika Rai, was transferred and two other officers of Mathura police were suspended and arrested on charges of murder and the case transferred to CID (Crime Branch) for further investigations. Apart from this NHRC and Minority Commission had despatched their own inquiry commissions to investigate the role of local police in the matter. The District Magistrate had also ordered an inquiry to be conducted by the city magistrate.