J&K: Kathua DC to probe into minor’s rape, murder

JAMMU: Following vociferous protests by an unrelenting Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly here on Friday, the PDP-BJP government ordered a magisterial probe into the alleged rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from a nomadic tribe in Kathua district.

The minor had gone missing over a week back and her body, with serious injury marks on her face, was found from the woods in Hiranagar on January 17.

As soon the House assembled for the day’s business, the Opposition comprising Congress and National Conference created an uproar accusing the state government of not doing enough to ascertain the cause of murder and bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.

“Where were the SHO and SSP?” asked Congress legislator GM Saroori.

While, NC MLA Main Altaf demanded a time-bound probe in the murder.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, later on, informed the House that the government will hold a magisterial probe into the murder.

“The deputy commissioner will conduct the inquiry,” he said.

On Thursday, the Opposition comprising National Conference and Congress had staged a walkout from the legislative assembly to protest against the heinous crime.

Accusing police of inaction, the protesters raised slogans against the police and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Outraged over gruesome murder of the little girl, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday promised expeditious investigations and punishment to the guilty.

“Outraged by the heinous incident in which a young Bakerwal girl has lost her life. Incidents like this will be investigated expeditiously & the guilty will be punished,” she posted on her Twitter handle.

Meanwhile, former chief minister and Beerwah MLA Omar Abdullah on Friday regretted that chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s didn’t deem it apt to come to the assembly for an assurance of quick action in the case.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “It’s tragic that @MehboobaMufti didn’t see fit to come to the Assembly and assure people of quick action in this case”.