New Delhi

The Supreme Court of India on Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh Police chief to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Ghaziabad last month.

A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant said the SIT should be notified preferably on Friday or by 11 am on Saturday. The bench also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi.

The court noted that the victim’s parents were dissatisfied with the investigation carried out by Ghaziabad police. It directed that the SIT should be headed by an officer of commissioner or inspector general rank and include women police officers.

The SIT has been asked to examine all grievances raised by the victim’s family and also investigate the alleged role of two private hospitals that reportedly refused treatment to the injured child.

The bench ordered the SIT to submit a supplementary report before the concerned trial court within two weeks. It also directed the trial court to pause ongoing proceedings in the case until then.

The matter came up while hearing a petition filed by the victim’s father seeking a court-monitored investigation either by an SIT or the Central Bureau of Investigation.

During earlier hearings, the apex court had criticised the alleged delay by Ghaziabad police in registering an FIR and termed the investigation approach “insensitive.” It had also expressed concern that two private hospitals allegedly refused to admit the bleeding child, who was later declared dead at a government hospital.

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According to the case details, on March 16, a neighbour allegedly took the child away on the pretext of buying chocolates. When she did not return, her father searched for her and found her unconscious and bleeding.