Three years since Nithari; one case decided, 18 more to go

Three years after the gory Nithari killings rocked the country causing widespread outrage over the cannibalistic and necrophiliac traits of convict Surinder Koli, 18 out of 19 cases continue to linger on.

Businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, at whose D-5 Noida house the crimes were committed, and his servant Koli were sentenced to death by a CBI court in February this year for the rape and murder of 14-year-old girl Rimpa Halder. However, 16 more cases are under judicial process.

The Allahabad high court had on September 11 this year acquitted Pandher while confirming death sentence of Koli.

The victims' families want the courts to take up the Nithari killing cases on a fast-track mode.

"The next hearing could be in the case of another victim Aarti who was allegedly raped and murdered at Pandher's house. We hope the courts take the cases on a priority basis. The families want justice," Khalid Khan, a lawyer representing families of Nithari victims, said.

"Charge sheets have been filed in 16 cases, while one case is under investigation. In two other cases, the closure reports have been filed," special public prosecutor for CBI JP Sharma said.