CBI probe sought in NRI student's death

The family of a 21-year-old NRI student who died after being attacked in an apartment block here has Tuesday demanded a CBI inquiry into his alleged murder.

Anil Sarna, father of the non-resident Indian student Anmol Sarna, made the demand after meeting Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi, saying he was not happy with the police investigation.

Anil Sarna said he did not believe the police claim his son died of self-inflicted injuries and thrashing by two guards of Kalkaji's South Park Apartments on the night of Sep 13-14.

"I will appeal to all authorities of India, including president, prime minister, home minister - to unravel the mystery of my son's death," he said.

Anil Sarna alleged police were trying to save Anmol's friend, Chiki, who he said was the main culprit.

Police Tuesday said apartment guards Surender Bali, 46, and Naresh Mishra, 60, were arrested for thrashing the victim after he shouted loudly and behaved abnormally after a party in a friend's flat.

Police said Anmol, who returned from the US around seven months ago, had organised a drug party with his friends Shivang alias Chiki Gambhir, 20, Madhav Bhandaru, 20, Rhythm Girhotra, 20, and Pranil Shah, 20, Sep 13 night.

All the friends have been arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for consuming drugs, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police P. Karunakaran said the five friends started consuming a powerful drug inside Shah's flat around 9 p.m. and around 11 p.m. Sarna became violent and started shouting and behaving abnormally due to a suspected drug reaction.

Angered by the misconduct, Shah's father turned all the five out of the house.

"But Anmol sat outside and kept shouting," police said.

The guards tried to stop him from shouting but when he slapped one of them, they beat him with batons, police said.

The thrashing caused injuries to Anmol on his head, back and hips, police said.

Shah's father called the Police Control Room around 12.09 a.m. Sep 14 and a vehicle took a bleeding Anmol to hospital, police said.

"The police van rushed him to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he died around 1.45 a.m. during treatment," said Karunakaran.

"We are still tracking the drug dealers who provided drugs to Anmol and his friends in Noida where they had gone to collect it Sep 11. They had paid Rs.7,000 for the drug and received it from one of his friends in Noida Sector 18," said the officer.