Ryan murder: 'Ashok saw 2 students in toilet just before murder'

GURUGRAM: Family members of Ashok Kumar, the bus conductor who was arrested by Gurgaon police as accused in the murder case of seven-year-old Pradhyumn Thakur inside Ryan International School, has said he was framed by school authorities and police.

Kumar's maternal uncle Om Prakash Chopra alleged police subjected Ashok to third-degree torture to force a confession. "He was threatened with death if he refused to confess," said Chopra, adding they were shocked by the Gurgaon police probe, and are relieved with the progress of the subsequent CBI probe.

"We're indebted to the people who insisted on the CBI probe. With their investigation, the truth is coming out," said Chopra, adding they are hopeful Kumar will be out of jail soon. Ashok was granted bail on Tuesday afternoon.

Kumar's father Amichand said CBI claimed it had no evidence against his son in court. "We're keeping our fingers crossed and praying to God for Tuesday's order," said Amichand, adding it's difficult for him to travel from his village to court every time for hearings."Every time, we come here with hope our son will be relieved. The wait is getting longer, but I'm hopeful," said Amichand, adding Kumar has been in jail for two-and-half months for doing nothing.

Chopra said his nephew was an easy target as they are poor. He said Kumar had narrated the sequence of events to the family during their interactions in jail. "Kumar had gone to the washroom where the murder took place, minutes before the incident, and had noticed two senior students changing for karate class," said Chopra. 

A few minutes after he left the bathroom, the gardener Harpal, called out saying teachers were calling him. "A teacher asked Kumar to carry Pradhyumn to a school van," said Chopra, adding at the time, Ashok's dress had no blood stains, which were created when Kumar carried the boy.He alleged police has mentioned that Kumar had brought the murder weapon — a knife — into the washroom, but as per forensic report, the knife doesn't have his fingerprints.

"Police claimed Kumar had bought the knife in Agra. CBI identified a shop in Sohna from where it had been purchased," said Chopra, adding his nephew had been framed. The family claimed when they met police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar on September 12, he demanded proof of Kumar's innocence.