Crime committed to drive out nomads, reveals CB probe in Kathua Rape-N-Murder

The ongoing probe by the Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police into rape and murder of an eight year old Kathua girl has revealed that the heinous crime was carried out to “drive out nomads from the Rasana village dominated by a particular community.”
“The detailed status report has been submitted before the High Court. Next date of hearing is 14 March,” inspector general of police, Crime Branch, Syed Afad-ul-Mujtaba told Kashmir Post.
An official said that the CB in its report has said: “Drugs were used to sedate the victim. These were purchased by one of the accused special police officers from a medical shop in Kathua days before the girl was abducted.”
An official said the Crime Branch is still investigating whether there is any link between some protesters and the accused.
“In its status report, the Crime Branch has apprised the court about havaldar Tilak Raj, who washed victim’s clothes that were soaked in blood and mud before sending them for forensic test,” he said, adding that role of the sub-inspector Anand Dutta, who was the investigative officer, and was later detained by the CB, has also been discussed in the status report.
“The havaldar had washed the clothes of the victim with an intention to save the offenders,” the official added.
Another official said that CB has also informed the court that Shubam, another accused detained earlier, is not juvenile, as a team of doctors from Government Medical College Jammu has declared him above 19-years of age after physical examination.
He said that Shubam was produced before the team of doctors on the court directions.
The official said that Sanji Ram, a retired revenue officer, “has been instrumental in organizing protests carried out by the Hindu Ekta Manch.”
“Sanji Ram is also the custodian of the premises where victim was held captive for a week,” he added.
It may be recalled here that Hindu Ekta Manch has been spearheading the protests in Kathua demanding that case be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation. The group has also rallied against what it calls wrongful arrests.
The ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party had met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu on Thursday and demanded that case be handed over to CBI but the Chief Minister rejected their demand outright.