Youth’s ‘murder’ by roommates: Letter to PMO, Khattar

GURGAON: The family members of Nitesh Rai, who was allegedly murdered by his roommates, have written to Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home Affairs and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, alleging police inaction in the case. Rai’s body was found hanging from the window of his room in Hisar on August 28. Initially, police had claimed that Rai had committed suicide, but after protests from his family members, his roommates were booked for murder.
According to the family, 24-year-old Rai, a resident of Barwa village in Bhiwani district, was staying is Hisar where he used to work as a stenographer, in a room along with four roommates. “My son was killed between 10pm and 11 pm on August 28 by his roommates. However, they informed us and police only around six hours after the incident. In fact, the roommates came home and took me to the spot in their car. On the way to the spot, they informed me that my son is dead. I was just numb. Police reached the spot after I called them, but they tried to make it a suicide case. I was alone and was cornered by police personnel and families of the accused,” said Prahlad Rai, Nitesh’s father.
“Also, police have not found any suicide note. By looking at Nitesh’s photograph, which was taken on the spot, nobody can say that he committed suicide. How can Nitesh, who was 5 feet 7 inch, hang himself from a window? His body was found tied to a window with a towel, and the police tried to prove it to be a suicide case despite the fact that there were injuries on his body. His autopsy was also not done properly. It was only after protests and candlelight marches did the police file a case of murder against the four roommates, whom we suspect killed Nitesh. However, it has been over 25 days and still police don’t seem to be taking any further action. It seems there is a political pressure on police and that’s why they are not taking any action against the accused,” he said.
Cops say they are carrying out an investigation. “We are doing our job and there is no political pressure on us. We will take appropriate action once we are through with our investigation,” a senior police official told TOI.