Palakkad: The probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the mysterious deaths of two minor sisters at Walayar in Kerala's Palakkad district is entering the final stage.
The probe team has examined the evidence, testimonies and proceedings, and indications are that the team has reportedly found serious lapses by the police from the prosecution stage to the trial.
The team has also found that witnesses were not given the necessary instructions and that the directives of the Deputy Superintendent of Police in this regard were ignored. The parents of the girls, and the council seeking justice — Walayar Neethi Samara Samithy — had earlier alleged this. The High Court verdict had also flagged the lapses.
The post-mortem report of the elder girl had revealed sexual assault. Therefore, if timely action had been taken, the second death could have been prevented, the CBI observes.
The CBI is also closely examining whether there had been political interference in the probe.
In the Walayar case, the CBI has recorded the statements of 106 people, including that of the girls’ parents, friends, local people, witnesses, police officers and judicial officers.
As reported earlier he CBI has registered two FIRs over the deaths. It is suspected they were sexually assaulted before they were murdered. The eldest girl, aged 13, was found hanging inside their hut on January 13, 2017 and the younger sister (9) on March 4.