Noida,21 August 2024: Uttarakhand Police have established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the brutal rape and murder of a 33-year-old nurse, whose body was discovered in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district. The nurse, who worked at a private hospital in Rudrapur, was reported missing on July 31 after failing to return home following her night shift.
Incident Overview
The victim was last seen on July 30, when she was heading home alone after work. Her family filed a missing person report the following day. A week later, on August 8, her body was found in an empty plot in her village in Rampur. Initial investigations led to the arrest of Dharmendra Kumar, a 28-year-old daily wage laborer from Bareilly, who allegedly intercepted the nurse and assaulted her before killing her.
Arrest and Investigation Details
Kumar was apprehended on August 14 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, after police utilized CCTV footage and technical evidence to track his movements. He reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that he attacked the nurse after she resisted his advances. The police recovered the clothes he wore during the incident and other belongings of the victim, including her mobile phone.
The case has sparked public outrage and raised concerns about safety, particularly for women in the region. The SIT aims to conduct a thorough investigation, addressing the complexities surrounding jurisdiction as the crime occurred in Uttar Pradesh, but the victim was employed in Uttarakhand.
Blame Game Between Police Forces
The investigation has also highlighted a blame game between the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh police regarding jurisdiction and response times. While the crime occurred in UP, the initial investigation was conducted by the Uttarakhand police after the missing person report was filed. This has led to criticism of both police departments for their handling of the case.
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