Crime

Kathua rape and murder: Crime Branch arrests son of alleged mastermind from Meerut

Srinagar: The Crime Branch, which is investigating the rape and murder of an 8-year old girl, has arrested on more person involved in the crime, reported the Rising Kashmir. 

The person has been identified as Vishal, who is the son of the alleged mastermind of the crime, Sanji Ram. According to the the report, the accused has been arrested from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

Asifa Bano was kidnapped on January 10 and her dead body was found on January 17 in Kathua.

Crime Branch has already arrested three culprits including two SPO’s while it has also arrested a police officer for destroying the evidences.

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.

Recently, the Crime Branch investigating the gruesome rape and murder of a minor girl of Kathua, arrested a head constable and detained sub inspector for questioning.

The arrest came after a day 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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