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Indian Police File Murder Charge After Times Describes Cover-Up Indian Police File Murder Charge After Times Describes Cover-Up
(about 5 hours later)
NEW DELHI — A man suspected of bludgeoning his wife to death in front of at least a dozen people has been charged with murder, after the killing in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was described in an article in The New York Times.NEW DELHI — A man suspected of bludgeoning his wife to death in front of at least a dozen people has been charged with murder, after the killing in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was described in an article in The New York Times.
The article, published last month with the headline “How to Get Away With Murder in Small-Town India,” described the death last year of a woman, Geeta, in the isolated hamlet of Peepli Khera. A neighbor said she had seen the victim cowering in a bathroom while her husband, Mukesh, brought a bamboo stick down on her, again and again. Geeta died on the spot.The article, published last month with the headline “How to Get Away With Murder in Small-Town India,” described the death last year of a woman, Geeta, in the isolated hamlet of Peepli Khera. A neighbor said she had seen the victim cowering in a bathroom while her husband, Mukesh, brought a bamboo stick down on her, again and again. Geeta died on the spot.
Witnesses, among them a local political official and a constable, told The Times that police officers had investigated the killing but had quickly closed the case, releasing Mukesh after a few hours of detention. Several witnesses said they suspected that Mukesh’s family had bribed senior officers at the police station.Witnesses, among them a local political official and a constable, told The Times that police officers had investigated the killing but had quickly closed the case, releasing Mukesh after a few hours of detention. Several witnesses said they suspected that Mukesh’s family had bribed senior officers at the police station.
After the case drew worldwide attention, however, Mukesh, who like many Indians uses only one name, was arrested and charged with murder on Saturday.After the case drew worldwide attention, however, Mukesh, who like many Indians uses only one name, was arrested and charged with murder on Saturday.
Pramod Gautam, the lead investigator at the police station in Kharkhoda, near the village, said on Monday that the case had been reopened after the district’s senior superintendent of police received a copy of the Times article and ordered an inquiry.Pramod Gautam, the lead investigator at the police station in Kharkhoda, near the village, said on Monday that the case had been reopened after the district’s senior superintendent of police received a copy of the Times article and ordered an inquiry.
Four women told the police that they had witnessed the fatal assault, Mr. Gautam said, and Mukesh confessed and produced the bamboo club he said he had used in the attack.Four women told the police that they had witnessed the fatal assault, Mr. Gautam said, and Mukesh confessed and produced the bamboo club he said he had used in the attack.
Mr. Gautam denied that any officers had accepted bribes, and said that the reason Mukesh had been freed at the time of the attack was that no villagers had been willing to describe what they had seen. Mr. Gautam denied that any officers had accepted bribes, and said the reason Mukesh had been freed at the time of the attack was that no villagers had been willing to describe what they had seen.
He said that they preferred to avoid the judicial system, and that such informal agreements are “common practice” in the region, but acknowledged that “the system of compromise buries the truth.”He said that they preferred to avoid the judicial system, and that such informal agreements are “common practice” in the region, but acknowledged that “the system of compromise buries the truth.”
“It is great that an American newspaper reported it,” Mr. Gautam said by telephone. “It is definitely unusual. But the report did a great amount of good. The public gets to know what the real case is, and that there should be no compromises."“It is great that an American newspaper reported it,” Mr. Gautam said by telephone. “It is definitely unusual. But the report did a great amount of good. The public gets to know what the real case is, and that there should be no compromises."
Jahiruddin Mewati, the village chief of Peepli Khera, told The Times he had brokered an agreement between the family and the police to avoid prosecution at the time, and that a bribe had been paid. Police officers said they had not questioned Mr. Mewati as part of the investigation.Jahiruddin Mewati, the village chief of Peepli Khera, told The Times he had brokered an agreement between the family and the police to avoid prosecution at the time, and that a bribe had been paid. Police officers said they had not questioned Mr. Mewati as part of the investigation.