A Special Investigation Team of the Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has reportedly filed a chargesheet against 15 people over the alleged rape and death of a 15-year-old girl in Kishtwar district. The outlet said an official disclosed the development on Saturday, but its report did not identify the official or name the accused.
The minor was a tribal girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted repeatedly by a teacher at her school. The reported assaults continued for several months and allegedly led to her becoming pregnant, the outlet said. The teacher’s name, identify the school or specify when the alleged abuse began has not yet been disclosed.
The girl reportedly died in the Chatroo area on August 20 after an alleged attempt was made to terminate her pregnancy, reported media. The outlet did not state where the alleged procedure took place, who reportedly carried it out or whether she was taken to a hospital before her death. It also did not report the findings of any post-mortem examination.
Media reported that the chargesheet was submitted within 60 days of the SIT assuming responsibility for the investigation. The case concerns alleged repeated sexual assault, the girl’s resulting pregnancy and her subsequent death after the reported attempt to end that pregnancy. The report, however, did not explain the alleged roles of the other accused beyond the teacher or state whether any of them were school employees, medical personnel, relatives or other individuals.
Deccan Herald attributed both the filing of the chargesheet and the investigation timeline to an official. Its report did not include a statement from the family of the girl, the school, the accused or their legal representatives. It also did not provide details of evidence that the SIT reportedly relied upon while preparing the chargesheet.
The accusations remain allegations contained in a reported chargesheet, as described by Deccan Herald. Further official confirmation is required on the identities and alleged roles of the 15 people, the circumstances surrounding the girl’s reported death, the evidence collected and the court proceedings that follow the filing.
With inputs from Deccan Herald