National SC panel chief for immediate arrest of culprits

Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes P L Punia today expressed concern over the delay in arresting culprits involved in the rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Kerala and said if the family wants, he will push for a CBI probe into the gruesome incident.
"This is highly shocking," Punia told PTI after visiting the victim's mother in hospital and her house in Perumbavoor and asked the Kerala police to immediately arrest the culprits who committed the heinous murder of the 30-year-old law student on April 28.
Noting that "Kerala has never been known for this kind of brutality as we see in North India including New Delhi", Punia said there has been "some flaw" in implementing the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 enacted against the backdrop of Delhi gangrape incident in Kerala in its letter and spirit.

"...It is a matter of concern that the culprits have not been arrested so far. Whatever efforts have been taken, that has not reflected in the arrest of the culprits," said Punia, who was briefed by the top police officials about the steps taken to nab the culprits.
He said police have informed him that they have interrogated a number of people in connection with the incident.
"About 125 people have been interrogated, questioned, and 10 very intensely questioned and they are hopeful that something would come out and the culprit would be arrested within next one or two days," he said.

"If the arrest is made, we can say that they made all efforts. But if these efforts do not result in the arrest of the culprits, then they are all useless. So my worry, caution and warning to the District Police Chief is to arrest the culprit immediately.

"And this is the demand of the mother. She is not demanding money, she is not demanding the job. She is demanding the arrest of the culprit so that the justice is done," Punia said.
Asked whether he felt that a CBI probe was required into the incident, the Chairman, who also met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during his visit, said: "The family is not interested in who investigate" and they only want to see immediate arrest of the culprit.

"I wanted that..If there has been any delay and can we ask for CBI probe...But they are not very keen on CBI probe. If the family wants, we can definitely push for the CBI probe," he added.