Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 19: A 15 year old minor boy has been arrested by police in connection with murder of a minor girl in Hiranagar area of Kathua district today.
This was stated in State Assembly today by Minister of Revenue, Haj, Auqaf and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri while responding to the concern expressed by the Legislators on the gruesome incident. The Minister informed the House that the accused has confessed the crime.
He said the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by SDPO Border, Chadwal revealed that the accused kidnapped the minor girl and put her at nearby cowshed at village Rassana, where he attempted to rape her and when she resisted, he killed her by strangulation. The accused has been arrested and further investigations are on, he added.
Giving details of the crime, the Minister said that on January 12 this year, the father of the girl Mohammad Yousf S/o Shab Din of Rasana, Mohara, tehsil Hiranagar registered a written complaint with police stating therein that his eight year old daughter namely Asifa had gone for grazing horses in near by forest area. At about 1600 hours, the horses returned to the Dhera but Asifa did not return. Consequently the complainant along with others started search in the forest and on the next day they again searched the forest area but she could not be traced any where.
A case FIR No 10/2018 U /S 363 RPC was registered and the investigation started.
The Minister said that during the course of investigation, police party of Police Station Hiranagar and VDC Badoli visited the spot and search of Rassana forest was conducted along with civilians and Bakerwals residing in the area.
Veeri said on January 17 at about 1030 hours dead body of missing girl Asifa was recovered from the Rassana forest area. Thereafter the police team along with SDPO and SHO Hiranagar visited the spot and photography of dead body was conducted through crime photographer and services of FSL team was also utilized. The dead body was taken into police custody for post-mortem.
Later the body was shifted to District Hospital Kathua for the post -mortem through Board of Doctors. After the post-mortem, the dead body was handed over to its legal heirs for last rites. Investigation of the case is in progress to collect more evidence about the commission of offence by the accused, he said.
Earlier the issue was raised by NC and Congress members including Hakim Yasin of PDF during Question Hour in the House and they demanded a statement from Government.
Expressing concern over the incident, Mian Bashir of NC said the girl has been murdered. Terming it a serious crime, he said it is shameful and wanted to know what Government has done.
Veeri, while sharing members concern said “yes I also said it is a serious issue. SIT has been set up, time bound probe will be conducted. Investigation will be done and accused will be arrested.” he added.
However not satisfied, G M Saroori of Congress said that there is no accountability in this Government and no action has been taken so far.
The Minister assured the House that if there will be any lapse in investigations the action will be taken against the officers. But Sagar also stood up and said that the Government was not taking the matter seriously.
The opposition members later raised slogans “Ladli Beti Ko Insaaf Do” and Sharam Karo, Sharam Karo”.
However to satisfy the agitating Opposition, Minister again stood up and informed the House that besides, SIT a probe Magisterial Level investigation will also be held and Inquiry on the level of DC Kathua will be conducted.
Meanwhile, Kathua Police has said that it has solved the sensational kidnapping and murder case of a minor girl whose body was recovered under suspicious circumstances in Rassana forest area in the jurisdiction of Police Station Hiranagar.
The police said it has arrested a 15 year minor who confessed the crime and the investigation conducted as on date revealed that that the accused kidnapped the minor girl and put her in near by cow shed at village Rassana, where he attempted to rape her and when she resisted, he strangulated her to death and then threw stones on her face and head for her defacement. The accused has been arrested and further questioning is going on.
Investigation of case is in progress to collect more evidence about the commission of offences, police said.
SSP Kathua Suleman Choudhary said that since the accused is a juvenile and as per the Jammu and Kashmir Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2013 (Section 22) disclosing name and particulars of a Juvenile is not allowed.
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