Q/ Why was there heavy police deployment at the victim’s house?
A/ Soon after the incident on September 14, there were intelligence reports that said that certain sections were making deliberate attempts to stir up caste tensions and create communal discord. Based on intelligence inputs, the police were deployed to prevent any kind of threat to the victim’s family. If there had been any untoward incident, [like] a family member of the victim being attacked or certain groups attacking their house or setting it on fire, the police would have been blamed.
It is the responsibility of the local police and the local administration to carry out a threat assessment and, based on that, provide safety to the family and the village.
Q/ Why do you think certain groups are trying to stir up caste-based violence?
A/If you see the track record of Uttar Pradesh in the past three and a half years, there have been no law and order problems, communal incidents or caste-based violence. So, certain elements and groups are making attempts to disrupt the peace.
Q/ Why were the last rites conducted hurriedly, in the dead of night?
A/It has already been clarified that the decision was taken at the local level by the administration, including the district magistrate and the superintendent of police, taking into account the law and order situation at the time. The last rites were performed according to religious customs in the presence of family members.
Q/ Why did the police jump the gun to say there was no evidence of rape?
A/The report based on the sample from the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital in Aligarh, which was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Agra, said that no spermatozoa was found. These are the facts, but the media has misquoted me saying that I have said there was no rape. I am not saying it is not a case of rape. On the basis of the FSL report and the evidence being collected in the case, the investigating officer will list the offences and prepare his report. Everything will be included in the report and it is the legal duty of the IO to take into account all facts and evidence of the case.
Q/ When will the report be finalised?
A/Usually, the investigating officer has to prepare his report and submit it in court within 90 days of the arrest.
Q/ Does the post mortem by doctors in Delhi contradict the FSL report?
A/All reports are on the same page.
Q/ Are you ruling out the possibility of sexual assault?
A/Certainly not. We are probing the case and nothing has been ruled out yet.
Q/ What are the charges pressed against the accused?
A/The police has registered an FIR and added section 376D of the IPC, which deals with gang-rape, on the statement of the victim; various other charges are being investigated.
Q/ Why is there a need for a CBI investigation?
A/The Uttar Pradesh government is open to a fair investigation and it is all for transparency. Now, everyone should cooperate to bring out the truth of the case as the state government has recommended a CBI investigation.
Q/ Have you identified the groups that were trying to incite caste-based violence?
A/An investigation has been launched to probe the larger conspiracy. The UP Police have registered a separate FIR to probe the bigger conspiracy and we have definite leads on groups and individuals trying to cause trouble and disturb social harmony.