Crime Branch reviews probe into minor tribal girl's rape, death in Kishtwar
A senior police official visited Chatroo in Kishtwar district on Thursday to review the investigation into the rape and death of a minor tribal girl, officials said.
Inspector General of Police (Crime) Sahara Rizvi visited the area and reviewed the progress of the investigation being conducted by the Crime Branch team, they said.
As part of the probe, the Crime Branch had conducted searches on Tuesday at the residences of the two accused brothers, Tariq Hussain and teacher Khalid Hussain, in Gurinal, Kishtwar, officials said.
According to officials, the 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her school teacher, Khalid Ahmed Sheikh, over several months before she died during a pregnancy termination procedure at a hospital on August 20.
The investigating agency is gathering evidence, examining material and determining the alleged roles of the accused and others linked to the case. It is also working to establish the sequence of events that led to the girl's death, officials said.
The searches were carried out after the Jammu and Kashmir administration formally transferred the case to the Crime Branch on August 29. The transfer followed widespread protests and demands from local residents and various groups for an impartial and comprehensive investigation.
Earlier, police had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which arrested seven people, including the main accused, his brother, two hospital sanitation workers and a nurse.
The arrests were made in connection with an FIR registered at Chatroo police station under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act, the BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In a related development, the services of a Hospital Development Fund (HDF) sanitation worker at District Hospital Kishtwar were terminated with immediate effect following her arrest in the case on August 30.
The termination order said hospital authorities had been formally informed about her arrest and noted that the allegations and offences involved were "extremely grave and serious".
It said retaining the individual in service was "wholly incompatible with the discipline, integrity, reputation and functioning of a public health institution". (with inputs from PTI)
