The High Court of Kerala directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation into the alleged rape & murder case of two minor girls at Walayar in Palakkad district.
The Court also said that the state government should give all the logistical support for the case.
Justice VG Arun issued the order based on the petition filed by the mother of the victims seeking a CBI probe.
The eldest of the siblings aged 13 was found hanging inside their home at Walayar on Jan 13, 2017, & the younger sister (9) on March 4 was found in the same manner. As per the postmortem report, both were sexually assaulted.
The autopsy report in the case of the younger girl even suggested the possibility of homicidal hanging.
However, a special POCSO Court in Palakkad had, in Oct 2019, acquitted the 5 accused for want for evidence. But in Jan this year, Kerala High Court set aside this order. The Court also ordered a re-trial in the case.
Public outcry & protests had erupted in the state then, seeking justice for the family of the girls. The State Govt had on No 18, 2019, removed the Public Prosecutor who handled the case.
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