Memorandum to PM for CBI investigation

Date: May 18, 2010

To

Shri Manmohan Singh
Honourable Prime Minister
Government of India

Subject: Request for transfer of the Nirupama Pathak murder case to CBI

Dear Sir

We — journalists, writers, intellectuals, students, teachers, and representatives from women and social organizations — seek that the investigation into the murder case of Nirupama Pathak, a young journalist and an ex-student of the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication, be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

We would like to draw your kind attention to the shocking murder of Nirupama Pathak, a 22-year-old journalist with Business Standard, who was found dead at her home in Tilaiya, Koderma District (Jharkhand), on April 29, 2010. Her family claimed she had committed suicide, but the autopsy report confirmed it was a murder, and that she had been smothered to death.

We fear that this could be a case of ‘honour killing’ because Pathak was in love with her college friend and fellow journalist Priyabhanshu Ranjan and wanted to marry him. But, her family was opposed to this because Ranjan belonged to a different caste and the Pathak family was strictly against inter-caste marriage.

In spite of the sensitive nature of the case, it appears that the local police have messed up the investigation process. The approach of the police has all through been callous, casual and prejudiced. Owing to this, some crucial evidences were either destroyed or lost. The local police appear to be working under preconceived notions and pressure from the family and political parties, thereby keeping the pace of the investigation process very slow.

We request you to kindly initiate the process to transfer the case to CBI, as the Jharkhand police have been unable to handle the case properly. It is important that justice is ensured to Nirupama because that would send strong signals to those who still keep medieval beliefs and commit such heinous crimes as ‘honour killings’.

Thanking you



The Press Club of India The Indian Women Press Corp

Justice for Nirupama Campaign The IIMC Alumni Association