North News
Chandigarh, January 18
A Chandigarh court has convicted Himachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police Zahur Haider Zaidi and seven others in connection with the custodial death of a Nepali laborer, a suspect in the 2017 rape and murder of a minor schoolgirl in Shimla’s Kotkhai area. The court, however, acquitted former Superintendent of Police DW Negi in the case. The case stems from the high-profile rape and murder of a 16-year-old schoolgirl, referred to as “Gudiya” to protect her identity. Her brutal killing in a forest near her home on July 4, 2017, sparked widespread outrage in Himachal Pradesh, leading to massive protests demanding justice. The other convicted officers include then Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Joshi, Sub-Inspector Rajinder Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector Deep Chand Sharma, and constables Mohan Lal, Surat Singh, Rafee Mohammad, and Ranit Sateta. All the accused were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for torturing and causing the death of Suraj Singh, a suspect who died in police custody on July 19, 2017.
The Gudiya Case
The teenager, who was returning home from school, was found dead in a forested area two days after she went missing. Her body bore signs of sexual assault and strangulation. The horrific crime shocked the hill state and triggered public anger against the authorities. In response to growing protests, the Himachal Pradesh High Court transferred the investigation to the CBI, which uncovered police misconduct during the probe. The custodial death of Suraj Singh, one of the six suspects initially detained by the police, further inflamed public sentiment. A mob burned down the Kotkhai police station, accusing officers of shielding influential individuals involved in the crime.
The CBI charged nine police officers, including IGP Zaidi, who was leading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the case. Evidence presented in court revealed that the officers had tortured Suraj Singh to extract a confession. Separately, the CBI arrested Anil Kumar, a 28-year-old woodcutter, after DNA evidence linked him to the crime. In June 2021, a Shimla court sentenced Kumar to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of the minor, also imposing a fine of ₹10,000.
Timeline of Events
- July 4, 2017: The 16-year-old girl goes missing in Kotkhai, Shimla.
- July 6, 2017: Her body is discovered in a forest.
- July 7, 2017: Protests erupt across Shimla and Kotkhai.
- July 19, 2017: Suraj Singh, a suspect, dies in police custody.
- July 22, 2017: The Himachal Pradesh High Court transfers the case to the CBI.
- April 14, 2018: Anil Kumar is arrested based on DNA evidence.
- June 19, 2021: Kumar is sentenced to life imprisonment.
- January 18, 2025: Chandigarh court convicts eight police officers for custodial death.
