New Delhi   

Mulayam not averse to CBI probe into Noida killings

NEW DELHI: Facing fresh criticism from the Congress, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday said he was not averse to handing over to the Central Bureau of Investigation the probe into the serial killing of at least 15 children in Noida.

Serious issue

Terming the incident a serious issue, Mr. Yadav told reporters here that he had asked the police in Noida to complete the investigation "as quickly as possible" and bring all the culprits to book.

He is here in the Capital to attend a meeting of Chief Ministers with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on police reforms and the proposed new Police Act and he made it clear that he was not averse to handing over the probe to the CBI but was confident the State police would do the job more efficiently and quickly.

"Delays happen only in the case of handing over the matter to the CBI. But that does not mean the State is against a CBI probe. If there is any lapse in the police probe, the matter can be handed over to them (CBI)," he said.

Addressing a press conference earlier, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh refused to take questions on the issue.

"Today it is the murder of humanity," he said referring to Saddam Hussein's execution when he was asked about the unearthing of the skeletons in Noida. He refused to take further questions on this issue. - PTI

Khursheed's demand

Staff Reporter adds:

U.P. Congress Committee president Salman Khursheed on Saturday demanded a CBI probe into the Noida killings. "If the Mulayam Singh Government has nothing to hide, then a CBI probe should be initiated into the ghastly incident. The inefficiency of the police in solving cases of missing children in the past two years should also be investigated,'' said Mr. Khursheed, who visited the scene of ghastly crimes in Noida.

The Congress leader charged that the State Government had failed on all fronts and the entire responsibility for the case lay at the door of the State administration. "The Government has failed to maintain law and order in the State. Complete jungle raj prevails here,'' he said.

Replying to a query, Mr. Khursheed promised to do the needful for the families of the victims. "It is not an opportune moment to talk about monetary compensation for the families of the victims. But every possible help would be extended to them,'' he added.

Mr. Khursheed said a social organisation had told him about the mysterious disappearance of children from Nithari village a couple of months ago, but had requested him not to politicise the matter. "I did not raise the matter earlier as our party did not want to take political mileage out of a sensitive issue," he said.

Congress Member of Parliament Rashid Alvi, who also visited the site, demanded that the Mulayam Government be dismissed for its negligence in the matter. "It is difficult to find a parallel to such a ghastly incident in the entire world. The children went on disappearing and the police did not make any efforts to find the perpetrators of the crime," said Mr. Alvi.

The angry residents of the village demanded that the accused be handed over to them

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

A stunner from Hollywood, a surprise from Bollywood
Mulayam not averse to CBI probe into Noida killings
Delhi traders are up in arms against new Master Plan-2021
More MCD wards auger well for governance
New Year Eve traffic restrictions
Man facing externment avails of RTI
Shoppers' day out
Master Plan will hit health services: Vardhan
With jackals trapped, IGI airport is a safer zone
Around the City
Briefly
In the Capital Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu