In a twist to the alleged rape and murder of three sisters near Murmadi village in Bhandara district of Maharashtra, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports from three experts have contradicted a post-mortem report over the possibility of rape.
“We had asked for reports from three forensic experts when the first report said there was no sexual assault on the three girls. Now we have got three FSL reports, which are unanimous on the conclusion that there was no sexual assault,” Superintendent of Police Aarti Singh told The Hindu on Tuesday.
The bodies of the girls aged 11, 8 and 6 were found in a well near the village on February 16.
ADVERTISEMENT
Inspector General of Police, Nagpur rural range, Rajendra Singh said on February 18 that according to the preliminary post-mortem report, the girls were “raped and then killed.”
The five doctors who conducted the post-mortem reportedly expressed displeasure over the FSL reports and stood by their report in which they concluded that there was “sexual assault.”
The post-mortem was conducted by Bharat Gulhane, C.S. Khobragade, Aparna Rangari, Prashant Padole and Pradeep Anand under the supervision of Bhandara civil surgeon R. Chahande.
ADVERTISEMENT
On March 11, Dr. Khobragade reportedly told an English daily that the two younger sisters had vaginal and anal injuries, which clearly indicated sexual assault.
According to some sources in the Bhandara district hospital, all doctors who performed the post-mortem and Dr. Chahande were asked by Manohar Pawar, Deputy Director of health services of Nagpur circle, to come to Nagpur with all the documents related to the case. They were also given a letter instructing them not to speak to the media.
The doctors could not be reached despite repeated attempts.