Son implicated: Mom of main accused

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 23

Left to fend for herself after the arrest of her son Rajender alias Raju, Kesri Devi has debunked the police theory that her son was the main accused in the rape and murder of a minor girl and had later killed Suraj, another accused in police custody.

“We have been living here for the past 30 years. My son never indulged in any kind of violence. Rather, his kind nature has earned him love and affection of people in the area. It is impossible to believe that he killed someone,” she said.

A cancer patient, Kesri now has no money to buy medicines. “I had to frequently travel to Shimla for check-up. As the bus service is irregular in this area, I used to seek lift. So, Raju bought a vehicle. It not only helped me but also people of our area whom Raju used to offer lift,” Devi said.

About the day the Class X girl was raped and murdered, she said: “I don’t know if Raju offered lift to the girl on July 4. Raju, Deepu and Suraj were spraying the apple orchards near our house that day and had come for lunch around 4:30-5 pm. At 6 pm, Raju finished his work and did not step out of the house.”

She said after the girl’s body was recovered, some people had asked her if she had heard someone screaming to which she had replied in negative. “My son is innocent. He has been falsely implicated in the case because we are poor and have no connection with those in power,” Devi said.

Lost hope in the system, she said: “I am dying every day. My son has been arrested and I get to know a different story every now and then. I still don’t know the real ground situation,” she added.

The pickup van, which the police claim was used to offer lift to the girl, is still parked outside Raju’s house — 100 metre from the spot where the body was found. Suraj’s house is closeby and it appears that his wife left in a haste under police protection as lights of the house were still switched on and books of his children were scattered outside but the house was locked.

Deepu ‘forced, threatened’

• Vinod, a friend and neighbour of Suraj, said an influential person of the village had visited the house of Deepu, another accused in the case, along with the police recently
• He alleged that the man had threatened Deepu, who is mentally disturbed, and got a statement recorded forcibly
• Suraj and Vinod used to work in Delhi together. Suraj had moved to Kotkhai four years ago, while Vinod joined him last year