Navsari girl's suicide case: Cops groping in the dark about rape accused

SURAT: After questioning number of suspects, going through CCTV footages across cities and examining over 15,000 call records, the cops are now waiting for the DNA and other forensic reports to make headway in the suicide case of 18-year-old Navsari girl who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a coach of the Gujarat Queen Express in Valsad.
Subhash Trivedi, in-charge IGP of railways, told media on Wednesday that the procedure to register a case of abetment of suicide with the Valsad railway police station is underway and rape charges will be added after scientific report is available.
Generally, a DNA report is made available in around 15 days. After a specific request from the cops in this case, the report is expected to come within three days.
The cops are waiting for scientific reports before registering the rape offence so that the accused don’t get any escape window during the legal process, sources said. Currently registration of FIR of abetment of suicide against unidentified is under process.
Sources said that police have also found witnesses who saw the girl sitting alone in a coach of the Gujarat Queen Express after it reached Valsad railway station.
Giving details of the investigation, Trivedi said that the cops have also questioned accused who had committed sex-related crimes in Vadodara in the past, drug addicts, autorickshaw drivers and other suspicious persons. A few of them have been detained for further questioning, Trivedi added.
Trivedi further said that since the case has links with different cities like Vadodara, Navsari, Surat and Valsad, police have collected CCTV footage from different parts of these cities including ST bus stand, railway stations.
Sources said that around 35 autorickshaw drivers who operate around Chakli circle, Vaccine Institute ground and near the girl’s residence were questioned so far. Police had also questioned around 55 people including NGO staff, neighbours, security guards, the victim’s friends and others who were in regular touch with the girl. The bicycle which the victim was riding at the time of alleged kidnapping hasn’t been found yet.
The girl was on her bicycle near the Vaccine Institute Campus in Vadodara before being allegedly kidnapped and raped by two unidentified persons in Vadodara on October 28. Two days later she arrived at her home in Navsari and during early hours on November 4 she was found hanging in Gujarat Queen Express.