Kathua rape-n-murder: SIT arrests one more person

Jammu, Feb 16: Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch of police have arrested one more person in connection with the ‘rape’-and murder of Kathua nomad girl Asifa Bano.
Official sources told news agency GNS that the SIT has arrested one more person namely Surinder Kumar in case (FIR No: 10/2018 U/S 363, 320, 376, 302 RPC).
Sources said that the arrested person had information about the abduction of the girl.
The FIR was registered following the ‘rape’-and murder of the 8-year-old girl Asifa Bano of Rasana Mohara, Hiranagar, Kathua. Asifa was abducted on Jan 10 and her body was found on January 17.
Additional Director General (ADG) Crime Branch, Alok Puri, when contacted responded in affirmative when asked by GNS about the arrest of one more person.
“Some reports including Forensic, FSL, and post-mortem are yet to come so it will take more time to investigate the case,” ADG added.
When asked about the involvement of another person arrested by the SIT, ADG said there was evidence against him in connection with the case.
Earlier, the SIT had arrested the accused SPO, Deepak Khajuria (28) of Hiranagar in the case. “The SIT has collected solid evidence which proves his involvement in the crime.
Police had added section 376 against the Deepak Khujaria, a special police officer (SPO).
ADG had also confirmed that the SPO was held after finding clinching evidence against Deepak. He had also revealed that medical report has confirmed that the girl was raped before murder.
Sources said that Deepak Khujaria was part of the police team that searched for the body of the girl. They said he also resorted to heavy baton charge on protesters on Kathua-Jammu highway, leading to injuries to many protesters and left the government in a tight spot before Opposition in the House.
The police came in for severe criticism for its lack of concern when the victim’s family had approached it with a complaint about her disappearance nearly two weeks ago. Subsequent, the government assigned the case to Crime branch Kashmir of the police.
The girl’s ‘rape’ and murder has been rocking the assembly since the day after the dead body was found on Jan 17, and members questioned the police for rounding up only one suspect.
The police had constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the murder and said that it has arrested one 15-year-old boy who, according to it, had confessed to having killed the girl.
His identity has not been disclosed due to the restrictions imposed by the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, the police had said.
Members had asked how a minor alone could have carried the body to a hiding place after committing the murder.
Opposition members had alleged that the police was trying to save others who had helped the accused minor, and was trying to hush the matter up.
The incident sent shock waves across the state with calls for strict action against those who carried the ghastly act.