PATHANKOT (Punjab), June 11: A senior officer of Jammu and Kashmir’s Crime Branch today assured the District and Sessions Court, conducting the trial in the Kathua rape and murder case, that the police would ensure the presence of prosecution witnesses during the hearing, lawyers said.
The court, which has started recording the statements of witnesses in the case of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district, last week expressed dismay over the absence of witnesses despite 17 summons being issued.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch, Ramesh Kumar Jalla, who headed the investigation, appeared in the court soon after the day’s in-camera proceedings started and assured Judge Tajwinder Singh that the police would ensure the presence of witnesses from here on.
The court had issued directions for the SSP’s personal appearance.
The officer assured the court that all the witnesses would depose in the court and record their statements on time in future, defence lawyer Aseem Sawhney told reporters when the court broke for lunch.
According to other lawyers and officials, a prosecution witness today started reconstruction of the entire crime scene before the court and his statement was being recorded.
“Because it is an in-camera trial, we will not be able to disclose anything and are restricting ourselves. What we can say only is that the witnesses have appeared and the proceedings are going on,” Sawhney, flanked by other members of his team, said.
He said the public prosecution had filed their objections and an inquiry was in progress on an application moved by the defence counsel about one of the seven accused – Parvesh Kumar alias Mannu – being a juvenile. (PTI)
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