Father of rapist transferred

The Surat commissioner of police, Shivanand Jha, on Saturday ordered the immediate transfer of the father of one of the accused in the gangrape case, who was posted as a head constable with the Surat police. Qutbuddin Saiyad, the father of Tariq, has been transferred to Ahwa in the neighbouring Dangs district, a source said. He had been posted at the Mahidharpura police station in Surat.

The decision to transfer him from Surat was to ensure that he did not use his influence as a policeman to tamper with evidence or hinder the investigation of the gangrape case in any manner. Saiyad could not be reached for comment, but relatives of the gangrape victim welcomed the move. “The police should ensure that he or the other policeman whose son is involved in the gangrape does not influence the probe in any manner,” a close relative of the victim said.

The second policeman in question is PI NG Saiyad, the father of Shahid, one of the three accused in the case. He is currently posted at Dholka in Ahmedabad district.
In addition to the family of the victim, a number of leading citizens and other organisations had demanded the transfer to ensure a free and fair probe. There have also been demands for the suspension of the two policemen, but experts said this was not legally tenable.