Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3: Condemning alleged politicization of reprehensible act of rape and murder of Kathua girl, senior PDP Ministers, Naeem Akhtar and Altaf Bukhari today virtually ruled out handing over the case to CBI and said that the law would take its own course and the investigations will be taken to logical end very soon,
“It is highly deplorable that divisive politics is being played by some people over the most reprehensible act of rape and murder of an innocent girl, which has brought a bad name to the whole society,” Minister for Works Naeem Akhtar said in a statement.
He said instead of trying to whip up communal passions over this shameful criminal act, and try to hamper the investigations, the law enforcing agencies should be allowed to bring the criminals to justice to restore the confidence of the people. “The dangerous attempts of polarizing the situation in the otherwise tolerant and inclusive Jammu region over a dastardly criminal act need to be seen through and discouraged at every level,” he said and complimented the people of Jammu region for having unequivocally condemned this dastardly act of rape and murder of an unsuspecting girl.
Expressing dismay over the fingers being raised on Jammu and Kashmir Police, Akhtar said that J&K Police is known for its investigative skills and nobody can question their professional capabilities. He said one must remember that it is the same police force which is making supreme sacrifices to ensure peace and security in the State.
“Ironically, the same politicians who are today questioning the professional capabilities of the police force and want it to be kept out of investigations into Kathua incident, make a beeline to offer tributes when any personnel of the same force sacrifices his life while fighting elements inimical to peace,” he said and added that there can’t be double-standards in valuing the responsibilities of this key institution in one breath and demeaning the same institution in another breath.
The Minister said the civil society in the region should rise to the occasion and not allow any drift in the situation which could only lead to a destabilizing scenario with huge economic and social costs.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also said that the investigations into Kathua case is being investigated in a very professional manner and would be brought to its logical end very soon.
“This unfortunate incident is being treated purely on humanitarian grounds and I don’t think there is any scope for playing politics on this issue,” Bukhari said on the sidelines of a function organized by Department of Education at Kothibagh Higher Secondary School, Srinagar.
The Minister observed that J&K police is a professional force and the case has already been handed over to the Crime Branch which is doing a thorough investigation into the matter through its Special Investigation Team headed by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police.
“It was a shameful and most unfortunate incident. People should avoid giving any political and religious colour to such unfortunate incidents and I assure you that there will be no compromise on any angle of the investigations and the culprits would be brought to book without any fail,” he remarked.
Asked about the demands of handing over the case to CBI, Bukhari emphasized, that the Crime Branch is already seized of the matter and would conclude the investigations in a time bound manner without any fail. “I don’t think so as the case has already under investigations by the Crime Branch. I assure you on behalf of the Government that we will not fail to deliver justice in this matter,” he told the reporters.
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