Himachal IGP Zaidi, convicted of torture death in Kotkhai gangrape-murder, was a decorated cop, ‘rights activist’ too

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TNR News Desk (Sunil Chadha)

Himachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zahur Haidar Zaidi, convicted on Saturday (January 18, 2025) in the infamous Kotkhai rape-murder custodial death case, presents a paradoxical profile.
A decorated 1994-batch IPS officer, Zaidi was not only awarded the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2010 but was also a self-proclaimed human rights advocate.
Zaidi’s conviction by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Chandigarh in connection with the custodial death of a suspect, Suraj Singh, in the Kotkhai case has cast a shadow over his illustrious career.
While serving as the Inspector General of Communication at the time of his conviction, Zaidi had written a book titled Cop at Large’. He even scripted and produced a documentary film, ‘Aap Aur Hum’, aimed at raising human rights awareness among students.

Quantum of sentence to be announced on January 27

The CBI court found Zaidi and seven other police personnel guilty of the custodial death of Suraj Singh (29), a suspect in the Kotkhai gangrape and murder case of 2017. The quantum of the sentence will be announced on January 27, 2025.
The case revolved around the brutal rape and murder of a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Shimla’s Kotkhai on July 4, 2017. Zaidi, serving as IGP (South) at the time, headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case.
Suraj Singh, who was among the suspects in the crime, died in police custody on July 18, 2017. Initially, another suspect, Rajender Singh alias Raju, was accused of killing Suraj by allegedly smashing his head on the jail floor.
However, allegations of custodial torture soon surfaced, triggering massive public outrage and protests across Himachal Pradesh.

Massive public backlash and CBI intervention

The custodial death of Suraj Singh fuelled widespread protests, with demonstrators questioning the police’s integrity and demanding justice for both the schoolgirl and Suraj.
Shimla witnessed mob violence, which compelled the state government to transfer the case to the CBI.
The CBI registered two separate FIRs — one for the rape and murder and another for the custodial death. Zaidi and his team were charged with torturing Suraj Singh to extract a confession, ultimately leading to his death.

Zaidi’s Irony: A career of contradictions

Throughout his career, Zaidi held key positions across districts, including as Superintendent of Police in Mandi and Solan.
Known for his sharp intellect and leadership skills, he was seen as a rising star in the Himachal Pradesh Police. His contributions to promoting human rights through media and literature stood in stark contrast to the actions that led to his conviction.
“Zaidi’s conviction highlights the complexities of a career that merged advocacy for human rights with allegations of grave misconduct. As the state and its people await the sentencing, the case serves as a grim reminder of the need for accountability, even among those tasked with upholding the law,” said a rights activist.

Statewide protests for justice

The Kotkhai gangrape and murder case shook Himachal Pradesh to its core. The victim was abducted while hitching a ride in a pickup truck, raped and murdered. Her body was found in a nearby forest two days later.
The brutality of the crime and the mishandling of the investigation led to protests that ultimately brought the CBI into the picture.

Sunil Chadda

Sunil Chadda

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