The case of murder of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania at a South Delhi market on January 29 was on Tuesday transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, soon after the victim’s parents met Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
A CBI spokesperson said the agency was yet to receive a formal communication from the Home Ministry.
The death of the teenager, son of a Congress MLA, evoked angry reactions from northeastern residents of the capital, who alleged that the police had failed to protect him. They also accused Delhi residents of racial prejudices and an inhospitable attitude to the people from the region.
On Monday night, the Delhi Police arrested the fourth person in the case, Sunny Uppal, 37, at Lajpat Nagar. On Tuesday, he was produced before a court, which remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days.
Asked about the reasons for the delay in his arrest, a senior Delhi Police officer said he was identified with the help of Nido’s friend, an eyewitness.
On February 3, the police arrested Pawan, Sunder and Farman. Two minors who also allegedly assaulted Nido have also been apprehended. The police have now arrested all the six suspects.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court directed the Union government to consider 10-per cent reservation to northeast people in the Delhi Police. The police informed the court that it was setting up a special unit for protection of people of the northeast, similar to those for the security of children and women.
Additional Solicitor-General Siddharth Luthra gave this information to a Division Bench of Justices N.V. Ramana and Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, making submission on a suo motu petition on the murder.
