Bilkis case: CBI arrests policeman

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday arrested a policeman from Dahod district of north Gujarat for his alleged role in 'tampering with evidence' in a gang rape-cum-murder case during the post-Godhra communal riots.

Seven persons were killed and seven reported missing after the incident, which is now under investigation following a complaint by a witness Bilkis Yakoob Rasool. She was spared because she was pregnant at that time.

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Narpatsinh Patel, Head Constable of Randhikpur outpost, was nabbed early on Tuesday and produced in a court in Ahmedabad. He was sent to eight days CBI custody.

The CBI wants to determine his role in the incident and ascertain if other police officials were involved in 'damaging' the case during the initial investigation. The CBI reportedly found many lapses in the inquest report filed by Patel.

The CBI also produced 12 persons arrested earlier before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody. It is yet to conduct their identification parade. It had earlier procured 13 days' remand of the 12 accused and claimed to have got 'crucial evidence' during interrogation.

Since taking over the case, the CBI has arrested 13 persons, including a Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Dahod.