Probe into Kishtwar minor’s rape & murder handed over to J&K Crime Branch
Jammu, Aug 29 (IANS) On the demand of the bereaved family and locals, the probe into the rape and murder of the 15-year old minor in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district was handed over to the Crime Branch on Saturday, officials said.
The police in Kishtwar district had formed a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the case, but the family members of the minor victim had demanded that the probe be handed over to the Crime Branch.
The SIT has so far arrested six suspects in the crime.
A nurse in Kishtwar has been arrested in connection with the rape of a 15-year-old tribal girl by a school teacher last week, bringing the total number of people detained in the matter to six.
Sonika, a nurse at Kishtwar district hospital, was arrested on Friday following the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Probe into the case has now been handed over to the Crime Branch, officials said.
The teenager had been allegedly raped by her school teacher over several months.
The victim died on August 20 during a pregnancy termination procedure.
The case transfer to the Crime Branch comes amid demands for a prompt and comprehensive investigation and strict action against the guilty.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Crime Branch, Sarah Rizvi, confirmed that the agency had received communication from the Police Headquarters regarding the transfer of the case.
She said that the Crime Branch is in the process of taking over the investigation of the case.
The heinous crime has shocked the people and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has also decided to probe the case.
The NCST has served a notice to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and the Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sunny Gupta on August 25, warning them of personal appearance if they failed to file reply to the notice within five days.
–IANS
sq/khz