Crime

Kathua Rape and Murder case: Alleged ‘mastermind’ surrenders before Crime Branch after son’s arrest

Srinagar: The alleged mastermind of the Kathua rape and murder case, Sanji Ram has surrendered before the Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir police, which is investigating the case.

The surrender came after Vishal,his son was arrested on Tuesday from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.  The accused Sanji Ram, a ex-revenue official, was evading arrest after his involvement in the case came to light. The 60 year old surrendered before Senior Superintendent of Police (CB) Jammu.

In a bid to create fear among the Muslim nomads of the Rasana village, Ram is believed to have hatched the whole crime. Investigators say that it was he who motivated Special Police Officer Deepak Khajuria, to commit the gruesome rape and murder of the eight year old girl.

Asifa, an 8 year old minor was kidnapped and raped in Rasna Hera Nagar area of Kathua district and since then ‘Hindu Ekta Manch’ supported by BJP and NPP are politicizing the issue demanding the case be handed over to Central Bureau Investigation.

So far the crime branch has arrested a sub inspector, head constable, two Special Police Officers including the main accused, among seven people in the case.

Earlier, it came to fore that how the police had initially botched up the probe by destroying crucial evidence. 

Hawaldar Tilak Raj, posted at the Hiranagar police station, was arrested after it was prima facie established that he had washed Asifa’s clothes that were soaked in blood and mud before sending them for forensic test. Sub-inspector Anand Dutta, who was the investigative officer, has been detained for questioning, reported the NDTV.

On January 17, body of minor girl was found in the forests near Rasana, Hiranagar. The girl had been missing for a week. According to police, she had been abducted and raped by an SPO Deepak Khajuria, who was a part of the team sent out find her when she was missing.

The investigation of the Crime Branch further revealed that she had been drugged so that she couldn’t cry for help.

On January 23, the Mehbooba Mufti government had ordered a probe into the incident, and subsequently handed over the case to the Crime Branch of police. Several people including two policemen have been arrested so far for involvement in the crime.

However, Hindu Ekta Manch has been protesting in support of the arrested policeman, demanding transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.The Chief Minister has already condemned the rallies being held by Hindu Ekta March and also said that raising the tricolour in such rallies amounts to desecration.

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