D. G. Vanzara

GANDHINAGAR: E arth samples collected from a dug-up well in the farmhouse of the arrested Gujarat Deputy Inspector General of Police, D.G. Vanzara, in Illol village in Sabarkantha district were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar for examination on Sunday.

A team of the CID (Crime Branch) police led by the chief investigating officer in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, Geetha Johri, went to the village where the police believed the body of Sohrabuddin's wife, Kausarbi, was disposed of by the accused police officers.

Covered up

The revenue records showed that the farmhouse had two wells, but one was "missing" when the police inspected the bungalow earlier. It was revealed that the well was filled up with earth and a makeshift room constructed over it.

Suspecting that the covered-up well could reveal the mystery behind the sudden "disappearance" of Kausarbi, the Geetha Johri team dug it up and collected samples for analysis. The State Government has admitted in the Supreme Court that Kausarbi might have been killed but is yet to find any evidence of her murder.

Ms. Johri and her team reached Himmatnagar, the district headquarters of Sabarkantha, in the morning and held a meeting with the local police and Public Works Department officials.

Later the team proceeded to Illol, with JCB machines and dumpers provided by the PWD. The digging operations were going on till late evening.

Ravines searched

The police once again searched the ravines, about two kilometres from Illol. The police believe that Kausarbi was poisoned to death in a farmhouse in Koba, near Gandhinagar, and the body taken to Illol in a truck for disposal.

Even as the police operation was on in full swing, the villagers hurled stones at media persons, forcing them to flee. The local police were seen "instigating" the attack.

Later when the media persons went to lodge a complaint at the Himmatnagar town police station, the personnel refused to register an FIR. They were told to write down a complaint, which the police said would be "looked into" later.

This is the second time in a week media persons were attacked by the villagers.

The Ahmedabad Metropolitan Court has issued an order restricting the media from covering the court proceedings except report the orders when the three arrested IPS officers are produced for remand and the subsequent trial.

Suspended

The State Government has suspended Mr. Vanzara and the other co-accused IPS officer, Rajkumar Pandian. The order issued on Saturday night has placed the two state IPS cadre officers on suspension with retrospective effect from April 24 when the duo, along with the Rajasthan cadre IPS officer, M.N. Dinesh, were placed under arrest in connection with the fake encounter case.

According to the State Principal Secretary (Home), Balwant Singh, issuing the suspension order of the two officers in keeping with the All India Services Discipline Rules, was a mere formality as they would be deemed to have been suspended the moment they completed 48 hours in police custody.

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