CBI suspects Bhanwari may have been murdered

Jaipur: In a new turn of events in the Bhanwari Devi disappearance case, CBI suspects that the auxiliary nurse, who went missing from Jodhpur about one-and-a- half months ago, could have been killed.

Agency sources said that it was working on the possibility of the murder of Bhanwari Devi as it has got some indication that her body may have been burnt in some limestone quarry in the state.

Bhanwari(36), who was posted as auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village, around 120 kms from Jodhpur district, went missing on September 1.

Her husband Amarchand has alleged that she was abducted at the behest of Water Resources Minister Mahipal Maderna and his associates. The charges have been refuted by them.

The Minister, however, was dismissed from the state government on Sunday.

A team of agency officials is in the state vigorously tracking all the forensic evidence they are able to collect from various locations where Bhanwari Devi's presence was suspected. It is trying to build a chain of forensic evidence before Maderna may be called for questioning, they said.

Bhanwari was last seen at the sub-centre on August 24.

A five-member CBI team has so far interrogated Amarchand and discussed the matter in detail with local police officers.

The team also looked into call details of those arrested and collected video albums in which she has worked.

The agency is presently trying to ascertain the source of money for Bhanwari Devi who is said to have led a lavish lifestyle, they said.

Bhanwari's name had sprung up sometime ago after a CD, which allegedly showed her in a compromising position with the minister and an MLA, was circulated.

The Jodhpur police had announced a cash reward of Rs 4,000 for any information regarding Bhanwari. Police had arrested a contractor Sohana Lal Vishnoi soon after she went missing.

The woman had sold her car to Vishnoi and was on her way to collect payment from him in Bilada on September 1 when she disappeared. A few persons were also rounded up from Sikar district who had told police that the woman was murdered by a gang in Uttar Pradesh.

Bhanwari, mother of two girls and a son, has also worked in a few local music video albums and was said to be actively involved with the Congress party.