Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)
Shivamogga, Nov 19: The criminal investigation department (CID) team from Bangalore, which had been entrusted with the task of cracking the case relating to the mysterious death of teenager Nandita from near Thirthahalli in the district, has suspended its investigation for the present.
After the death of Nandita, who had been found from a desolate spot near the village, in Manipal Hospital, the incident snowballed into a major controversy, with various organizations and BJP accusing the state government of trying to cover up the case. Protests and demonstrations were also held at various centres within Karnataka with the active support of youngsters, particularly college students, demanding to hand over the case to Central Bureau of Investigation.
It is learnt that the CID team, which had been in Thirthahalli since the last two weeks, and had put in unstinted efforts to get to the root of the problem, could not succeed in making a breakthrough. The team returned to Bangalore after suspending the investigation into the said case.
Eyewitness accounts, postmortem reports, and death note reportedly left behind by the girl, have also been subjects of controversy. During the two weeks the officials were relentlessly pursuing this case, hundreds of people including students and doctors were questioned, telephonic calls were verified, and no stones were left unturned in an effort to solve the case, it is said. Frustrated at not being able to make any positive progress, the team went back to Bangalore on November 17, sources said.
The team however, has not lost all hopes. It now expects to achieve some breakthrough on the basis of forensic test reports expected to be received shortly. Officials had blamed parents of the girl for not taking the issue seriously when the abduction happened, and the girl was admitted into hospital. They point out that there was a delay of three days in filing police complaint. The police department too was found to be wanting in not recording details immediately upon the death of the girl, although a police official had visited the spot and narrated the details to higher officer.
The only thing that the team could conclude was that the girl was not raped as alleged. Although the police claimed that the handwriting in a death note found at her home matched with that of the girl, her parents have denied the same. The CID feels that forensic laboratory report from Manipal, Davangere, and Bangalore would be able to nail home the exact reason for the girl's death. If the situation continues to remain volatile then, they propose to send viscera of the girl to the advanced laboratory at Pune for forensic tests.