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5 Indian officials suspended over murder case

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-23 11:48

SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir: Indian authorities here Monday ordered suspension of four police officers and an forensic expert in the rape and murder case of two Kashmiri women on May 30, officials said.

The action followed the submission of the interim report by Justice (Retired) Muzaffar Jan Commission, appointed by the Chief Minister of the region Omar Abdullah to probe the death of two women in the region.

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The officials have been accused by the commission of not having investigated the case properly and thereby contributing to the destruction, dissipation and suppression of evidence in the case, said an official.

The death of two women triggered large scale protests in the region.

On May 30, the two women, aged 17 and 23, were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Shopian town, 50 km, south of Srinagar.

Locals alleged the duo were first raped and then murdered. They suspected the hand of Indian troopers into the incident.

Police first denied the allegations and cited drowning as the reason underlying their death.

However, the forensic reports later on suggested rape and murder of the duo and forced the police to register the case accordingly.