Kishtwar girl’s rape & death; Probe handed over to Crime Branch, staff nurse arrested

JAMMU, Aug 29;

Following public outrage, the probe into the rape and subsequent death of a 15-year-old girl in Kishtwar district has been handed over to the Crime Branch on Saturday.

Following instructions from the LG Manoj Sinha, the home department issued orders for the crime branch investigation into the case, said a top police officer.

The teenager had been allegedly raped by her school teacher over several months. She died on August 20 during a pregnancy termination procedure.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the police has so far arrested six persons in connection with the case, including the alleged rapist teacher and a nurse.
The case transfer to the Crime Branch comes amid demands for a prompt and comprehensive investigation and strict action against the guilty.
Inspector General of Police, Crime Branch, Sarah Rizvi, confirmed that the agency had received communication from the Police Headquarters regarding the transfer of the case.
       “We are in the process of taking over the case today itself from the police. A team is already in its way to Kishtwar,” she said.

Kishtwar Police arrested a staff nurse Sonika who was posted at Kishtwar district hospital for her alleged role in illegal termination of victim’s pregnancy.

With Sonikaarrested the number of people held so far has gone up to six. They include prime accused school headmaster Khalid Hussain Sheikh, 42, his brothers Tariq and Riaz, Mohammad Hussain of Sangrambhatta, Farooq Ahmed, a sweeper at DH Kishtwar