Dharwad: Family members of slain Youth Congress leader Fairoz Pathan have demanded that the state govt hand over the investigation into the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging serious lapses in the police probe.Addressing mediapersons in Dharwad, Parvez Pathan, brother of Fairoz Pathan, expressed dissatisfaction over the progress of the investigation and accused the police of failing to arrest the prime accused, Congress leader Ismail Tamatgar, who continues to remain absconding even two months after the murder.“Despite two months passing, the police have not treated the case with the seriousness it deserves. Ismail Tamatgar has still not been arrested. Fearing arrest, he has reportedly fled the country. The police have merely issued notices as a formality and are not making sincere efforts to apprehend him,” Parvez alleged.He further claimed that there appeared to be the influence of powerful individuals behind the police’s alleged inaction.Parvez also raised concerns over the treatment being given to Mainuddin, one of the arrested accused in the case, who is currently admitted to a hospital on health grounds. “It has come to our notice that he has been using a mobile phone and other facilities while in the hospital. There is a possibility of destruction of evidence, but the police are not taking any action,” he alleged.He said that Ismail Tamatgar and the other arrested accused have filed bail petitions and appealed to the court not to grant them bail.“Our mother and sister are at home, and we are living under constant fear. The police department should provide protection to our family,” Parvez appealed.Referring to recent statements made by office-bearers of Anjuman-e-Islam, Parvez clarified that the family had never made allegations against the institution.“Representatives of the institution stated during a press conference that Anjuman-e-Islam should not be dragged into the case. We have never accused the institution. However, some of them have claimed that Ismail Tamatgar had no role in the murder case. There are audio recordings of conversations between Fairoz and Tamatgar over the phone,” he said.
