Crime

Kathua rape and murder: Those organizing rallies, protests in favour of the criminals are also involved, says Geelani

Srinagar: Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Thursday accused the ruling coalition in the state of providing a safe passage to all the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case.

In a statement, he added that instead of cooperating with the investigators, those people who are creating hurdles indicates that they are also involved in the crime.

Blaming the authorities for their deliberate attempt to ‘hush up’ the case by destroying evidences and building up a communal narrative around the heinous crime, Geelani expressed his deep concern and while referring to Asiya and Nilofer rape and murder case, added that local police and stooges influenced the investigations and later the case was shelved without any reason.

Geelani added that the rulers are trampling all norms and ethics and added that instead of preserving the evidences the police destroyed all evidences to save the skin of those involved in barbarous crime.

He condemned the ‘politicization and communalization’ of an eight-year-old girl’s rape and murder and alleged that vested and communal sections were politicizing and communalizing situations, thus sabotage investigations”.

“It is a well thought out ploy to save criminals and in-depth investigation will lead to more arrests and will certainly reveal the involvement of more assailants,’asserted Geelani.

He added, “It is quite strange that instead of cooperating with investigating agencies to nab culprits, these  state minded elements are creating hurdles which indicates that those organising rallies and protests in favour of criminals, too are involved. We demand setting up of a fast track court trial so that justice can be dispensed,” he said.

Commenting over the slow pace in investigations, intentions to handover case to CBI and pressure created by vested interests, Syed Ali Geelani said that it is a deliberate move to shelve the case as was observed in Asiya and Nilofer Shopian double murder and rape case.

Blaming BJP and other communal elements for hooliganism, bullying and instigating sectarian strife in state, Geelani said that it will have dire consequences and distressing effect on dignity and honour of citizens living in state.

Geelani stressed for an impartial probe and stringent action against those involved in Kathua rape and murder case. “We are closely monitoring the case proceedings and situations and won’t allow any lacuna or any attempt to influence investigation. People won’t act as mute spectators and will react and resent if the accused are favoured with a lenient view,” said Geelani.

On Thursday, 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 comes 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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