Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

J&K dy CM sends audio clip to probe agencies to verify facts

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JAMMU: In the wake of an audio clip going viral on social sites on how big money was allegedly being minted in the name of justice to the victim of Kathua rape and murder case, the deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh on Thursday evening said that he has also heard the clip and has sent it to the investigat­ing agencies to verify its veracity.

Addressing media here this evening at his official residence, Singh said, “The child was subjected to a brutal crime infuriatin­g people across the country and the world. We need to go to the bottom of it to expose her killers.”

“I have sent the clip to the agencies to verify the facts,” he added.

On the demand of the people to have a CBI probe, he said that the case was in the court of law and whatever directions come from the court, the government will act on them.

“The case is now sub-judice and beyond the control of the government but if the court issues directions (of a CBI probe), we will do accordingl­y,” he added.

When asked about alleged conspiraci­es at the national and internatio­nal level to communalis­e the incident, he said, “The small girl was subjected to a brutal crime. This is a fact and police investigat­ions are before the court, which is acting on it. We have also stood for fast-tracking of the case but in this unfortunat­e incident, definitely deep conspiraci­es at the national and internatio­nal level are being hatched to polarize the situation and cause a communal divide to vitiate peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”

He further said that such attempts were being made by elements inimical to peace.

“But I would express my gratitude to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially of Jammu that they exhibited patience and maintained harmony. They also want justice for the victim but there should be no harassment of the innocents. A clear picture will emerge in the court of law,” said Singh.

The deputy chief minister regretted that some elements were trying to give the incident a communal colour, which was highly condemnabl­e.

Dr Singh, however, rejected that the state has been polarized since BJP-PDP government came to power in March 2015.

“At the same time, it is a fact that the day we (BJP and PDP) formed the government, all the forces, who are against democracy, brotherhoo­d and peaceful atmosphere in the state were at work,” he said.

He further said that elements in Pakistan and their ‘henchmen’ in Kashmir were hell-bent to polarise the situation because “they don’t have the guts to beat us on the ground on the governance front”.

MESSAGE FOR KOOTAH PEOPLE

“The child was subjected to a brutal crime. She must get justice but the case is the court. People can approach court if they feel the probe (by crime branch) was partial,” Singh said.

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Nirmal Singh

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