Lakhimpur: UP govt reply to CBI probe plea sought

The Allahabad high court on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a reply on a public interest litigation seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the alleged rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl inside police station premises in Lakhimpur district.

The order was passed by a division bench of justices Abdul Mateen and Ashwini Kumar Singh here which fixed July 8 as the next date of hearing. The bench directed the government to file a detailed reply in the form of an affidavit within three days.

The PIL was filed by a local court on June 15 seeking direction for a CBI probe into the case. The petitioner had also sought a direction for paying compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the victim's family to be deducted from the policemen concerned. He had also sought direction for dismissal of the accused police personnel.

The girl was found hanging from a tree inside the premises of Nighasan Police Station in Lakhimpur district on June 10. The victim's mother in her complaint had alleged that the girl was raped and murdered after which 11 policemen were placed under suspension.

Gunner of a circle officer was arrested on Sunday by the CBCID team probing the death of the girl.