Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: State High Court today constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range for investigation into alleged rape and murder of a deaf and dumb girl.
The body of deaf and dumb girl was recovered from a dry well on June 13, 2009 and post-mortem report revealed that she was carrying foetus of 14 to 16 weeks at the time of her death. Upon this proceedings under Section 174 CrPC were initiated by Ramgarh Police Station.
Dissatisfied with the manner in which the inquest proceedings were being conducted by the police, father of the deceased approached the Chief Minister seeking proper investigation so that those responsible for the rape and murder of his deaf and dumb daughter were arrested and proceeded against under law. On the basis of findings recorded in proceedings under Section 174 CrPC, FIR was registered on January 6, 2010 under Sections 302/376 RPC.
Complaining that police was not serious in the investigation of crime, father of deceased then approached the High Court seeking constitution of a SIT for the investigation into the case. During the course of the proceedings in the petition, the SSP Crime Branch Jammu filed status report mentioning that the local police had conducted proceedings under Section 174 CrPC in a most casual and unprofessional manner and because of the negligence of the police, important available evidence was stated to have been lost.
In the petition, Justice J P Singh, on April 2012, directed Director General of Police to suggest the name of three officers of the rank of Inspector, two each of the rank of SSP and DIG, who could handle the investigation properly, so that the Special Investigation Team was constituted and requisite results obtained.
The DGP was also directed to file affidavit within two weeks indicating the action proposed against all those who have been adversely reported to by the SSP Crime Branch Jammu and were responsible for loss of vital evidence.
In compliance to the direction of the High Court, Director General of Police furnished a list of seven officers and today Justice JP Singh with the consent of Advocate SM Choudhary for the petitioner and AAG Gagan Basotra for the State constituted a Special Investigation Team comprising Jagjit Kumar, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, Mohd Sharief Chouhan Additional SP Reasi and Gian Chand, Inspector district Udhampur for investigation into the case registered at Police Station Ramgarh.
The High Court directed the SIT to furnish the progress achieved in investigation to this Court after every six weeks.
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