Lucknow, Aug 21 (Agencies) : As communal tension was simmering in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad district on last Sunday night over the gangrape and murder of a 17-year-old girl, one of the top police officers in the region was busy partying.

Pictures of DIG Nilabhja Chaudhary (Faizabad range) and former CDO of Faizabad Akhand Pratap Singh partying on the intervening night of August 17 and 18 - when the girl's body was forcibly buried allegedly upon the insistence of police authorities - exposed the lackadaisical attitude of senior UP police officers towards sensitive issues in the district. The pictures that surfaced on Tuesday came as a shocker for the state police brass and the administration.

According to sources, the police officer was reportedly attending a function organised by the 63rd Battalion of the CRPF that celebrated its Raising Day on August 17. Asked about the issue, DIG Chaudhary said, "I just went there as a guest. I will not be able to say anything beyond this." Chaudhary is part of the team that is investigating the rape-murder of the Faizabad girl, sources said.

Former CDO had a safe excuse. "I have been transferred a few days ago and was just a guest," Singh said. Meanwhile, new CDO Arvind Mannapa took charge on Tuesday and went on leave reportedly to avoid the media.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate of Faizabad Anil Dhignra made a controversial statement on the gang rape and murder case. He said: "Yeh male female ka chakkar hai hum ise isi nazariye se dekh rahe hain (It is an incident that took place due to a love affair. We are investigating the matter in this direction," Dhingra said during a news conference.