Motihari, June 19: A two-member team of the regional air force police headquarters, Dett-14 Provost & Security (U), AF from Gorakhpur Air Force Station visited Motihari today to meet the two daughters of Kiran Srivastava, the 39-year-old mother who was burnt to death by her Indian Air Force (IAF) sergeant husband, on June 12.
The two officials recorded statements of Kiran’s minor daughters Vipashyana and Ayashna on the case.
Corporal Appa Jee and Ravindra Singh Lalas, the two police officials of the Indian Air Force, have prima-facie found the case true and accepted before the media that the absconding of the sergeant has strengthened apprehensions about his involvement in the killing of his wife.
Kiran’s elder sister Vipashyana (13), narrated the details in which her mother Kiran was set on fire and ultimately killed by her father and three other members of the family. She also said that because of an athlete, their father Amitabh used to frequently torture Kiran and press her for divorce.
The police officials, who had also visited the Rahmania Nursing Home and the town police station to collect details regarding the deceased victim, told the media that the sergeant Amitabh Srivastava has been suspended and a court of inquiry has also been ordered against him.
The proceedings of the court of inquiry and action against Amitabh by the civil police wound run concurrently against the accused sergeant and he would get major punishment as per provisions of the civil court, if found guilty, said Appa Jee. Speaking about the maximum punishment to the accused in this case, he said the sergeant could be dismissed and he would not be able to get government job in his lifetime.
Replying to the queries of The Telegraph and also of the family members of Kiran regarding IAF’s support to the minor daughters of the victim regarding education and other assistance, till they become major, Appa Jee said that after completion of essential probe into the matter, the inquiry committee would separately decide the other issues associated with the humanitarian angles of the incident.
On the other hand, despite a week after the incident, Kiran’s killers including Amitabh and three others in the family who are absconding are still at large.
When contacted, superintendent of police East Champaran, Ganesh Kumar, expressed seriousness and said that the accused would be apprehended soon.
Moreover, Kiran’s post-mortem was conducted on June 17 at Patna Medical College and Hospital but the police were yet to procure her autopsy report and submit the case in the court of chief judicial magistrate with a request for an additional FIR in the matter to convert the earlier case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
When asked, investigating officer of the case, K.D. Yadav, informed said because of workload the case is taking a backseat but said he would visit Patna for the autopsy report in a day or two to proceed with the case.
Meanwhile, people in the locality are tight-lipped over the entire issue and the house where Kiran was set on fire on June 12 morning was locked and wore a deserted look. Except Arvind Kumar, elder brother of Amitabh, all elders in the family have been made accused in the case as per the victim’s declaration (statement before police) made on June 12.
Sanjiv Kumar Mishra and Sanjay Kumar Verma, who are the neighbours of the victim, agreed to the atrocities on victim.
