Patna/Bhagalpur, March 27: Taking exception to the delay in lodging of an FIR in the murder of Suman Barnawal, the state human rights commission today issued a notice to the Bihar police chief and directed him to submit a report about the delay in instituting of the case.

The notice also sought to know from the top cop if any action was being taken against the erring officials.

The commission, which has started suo motu proceedings in the case, has directed the director-general of police to submit the report latest by April 11, when the case would be taken up for further orders.

Policemen allegedly took over 12 hours to register a case due to different views regarding jurisdiction.

Commission chairman Justice S.N. Jha observed in the notice that this was not the only case of its type. “The provisions of the Chapter XII of the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to institution and investigation do not refer to the territorial jurisdiction for instituting and investigating the case. The question of territorial jurisdiction becomes relevant only at the stage of enquiry or trial under Chapter XIII,” reads the commission notice.

Lakhisarai police have launched a massive search operation for nabbing the killers of Barnawal, but have so far not made much headway. Four persons have been detained for questioning.