The two Haryana policemen accused of raping a woman from Rohtak, who committed suicide on Monday, are absconding and the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch for further investigations, the police said on Tuesday.

"Both are absent from duty and absconding. They have been suspended and the case will now be investigated by Superintendent of Police (crime) Rajinder Singh," said Rohtak police chief Hanief Qureshi. Head constable Balraj Singh and Constable Silak Ram were accused by the 28-year-old woman of raping her in April.

The police had summoned the woman as her husband had been rounded up in a motorcycle theft case. The shocking incident, which occurred in the home district of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has battered the 'people-friendly' image of the state police. Barely a month ago, another victim of gangrape, a nurse, stripped and tore her clothes in Yamunanagar to protest alleged inaction in nabbing the accused.

The rape victim, who is survived by two daughters and her husband, had accused the Rohtak police of protecting the two cops, who had allegedly assaulted her on April 10.

A medical board had been set up to conduct an autopsy. The victim also left behind a suicide note saying she was taking the extreme step out of frustration and the two accused cops should be held responsible for her death.

The victim had even appeared in the 'open darbar' of Haryana's Director General of Police, Ranjiv Dalal in Panchkula a week back, complaining against the Rohtak police of not initiating any action against the accused.