CBI inches closer to cracking Bhanwari Devi case

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Edging towards solving the mysterious death of missing nurse Bhanwari Devi, the CBI on thursday took samples of the soil where her body was allegedly burnt and drained a canal where her last remains were dumped.

The incident, which triggered a political turmoil in Rajasthan leading to sacking of minister Mahipal Maderna, posed a challenge for the CBI in the absence of leads and destruction of evidences. CBI Director A P Singh and Additional Director Salim Ali, accompanied by forensic experts, inspected the spot where the 36-year-old nurse was allegedly burnt after being kidnapped.

"We have picked up some samples of soil for examination though the incident is virtually three-months old. We are draining the nearby canal to search for her watch which one of the accused claimed to have been dumped along with the ashes," a senior CBI official said.

The CBI brought Bishna Ram Bishnoi, one of the main accused arrested by police in Pune, on a transit remand. Bishnoi was arrested on Wednesday evening, a day after the arrest of Kailash Jakhar, another suspect. The duo are prime suspect in the case and allegedly played key role in disposing off Bhanwari's body after the killing, sources said, adding both have been remanded in CBI custody till January 16.

Bishnoi, who hails from Jaloda village, after taking possession of the body from his brother and gangster Om Prakash near Nevra Road had headed back in the direction of Phalodi to dispose it off.

The CBI team, which is camping in Jaloda, had even used a UAV mounted with a digital camera for collecting evidence. Bhanwari had gone missing from Bilara area on September 1 2011. The probe agency has identified the area based on the statements of all the suspects alleged to have been involved in her disappearance.