GUWAHATI, July 29 � Alleging slack investigation by Bihar police which has failed to apprehend the criminals behind the killing of Pritam Bhattacharjee even after 21 days of the incident, the Justice for Pritam Forum has called for handing over the case to the CBI.
�We think that they will not be able to arrest the real culprits, their accomplices and government servants guilty of inaction because it is quite obvious that such heinous crimes take place in Bihar quite frequently and there are large gangs who operate under the indulgence of people responsible for giving protection to railway passengers,� it said in a statement.
Pointing out that five similar murders had taken place at Naugachia police district recently within a short period of 20 days, the forum said that a criminal-police-politician nexus cannot be ruled out.
�The role of Bihar police is disheartening and they seem to just carry on mock investigation and not at all serious with their job. They also don�t seem to have requisite will power, modern technical devices and professional skills necessary for solving the mystery and arresting the real culprits,� it said.
Stating that hope of getting justice for Pritam under Bihar police was very minimal, the Forum appealed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to hand over the case to the CBI for a deadline-based inquiry.
The Forum said that the circumstances leading to Pritam�s kidnapping and murder involved harassment, robbing, abduction, torture and murder. It took place at a place having notoriety for crimes but despite that police investigation had failed to make any headway.
�We want the probe to be handed over to the CBI for fair investigation. We want all forensic tests to take place in CFSL, Hyderabad,� the Forum said.
Pritam was a bright young student who had completed his M.Sc in Astrophysics and was going to Delhi after being selected for PhD in JNU for his final talks with his future guide.
