Sohail Punjabi
Jammu: The Opposition created ruckus in state legislative assembly over brutal ‘rape and murder’ of 8-year-old girl in Kathua and questioned Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s silence over it and police “complexity”, charging it for “hushing up” the gruesome incident.
The eight-year-old girl, Asifa Bano, found dead in the forests near her native village Rasana in Hiranagar on Wednesday, had been missing since January 10 when she had taken some horses for watering in the neighbourhood.
The legislators of opposition NC and Congress including Shamima Firdous, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mian Altaf, Altaf Kaloo, Vikar Rasol, Abdul Majeed Larmi and Usman Majeed staged massive protest inside the assembly, demanding strict action against those responsible for “rape and murder” of 8-year old girl namely Asifa at Rasana area of Hiranagar in Kathua district.
The opposition members questioned silence by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and also pointed fingers at police investigation. “It has been four days but Chief Minister, despite being a woman has not spoken a single word on it,” Shamima Firdous, NC MLA from Habba Kadal constituency said.
“The screams and cries of the girl were heard by neighbors. Why was such a delay by police,” Shamima and other Opposition members said.
BJP MLA for Kathua constituency stood up from his chair and said “you are playing politics on religion basis and you want to communalize the issue”.
The MLA Kathua’s remarks triggered protests in the House even as Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri and Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Javid Mustufa Mir tried calm down the situation. They went near MLA Kathua and asked him not to make such statement.
The legislators amid protests shouted that cops including SHO and DSP want to hush up the case.
“How 15-year-old can kill and manage to dump the body by taking it from the cowshed some three kilometers away”, the legislators said and demanded suspension of SHO concerned and other police officers.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri informed the House that government has ordered the suspension of SHO concerned till further inquiry.
“No one will be spared and action will be initiated against those responsible for the murder”, Veeri said.
On Friday, police said the boy had also admitted to having the hit the victim’s face and head with a stone to disfigure her.
“During the course of investigation, a police party of Police Station Hiranagar and VDC Badoli visited the spot and a search of the Rasana forests was conducted along with civilians and Bakarwals residing in the area,” Police said.
“On 17.01.2017, at about 1030 hours, the dead body of the missing girl was recovered from the Rasana forest area. Thereafter the police team along with SDPO and SHO Hiranagar visited the spot and photography of the dead body was conducted through crime photographer, service of FSL team was also utilized. The dead body of deceased was taken into police custody for post-mortem,” police said.
“Later on, the dead body was shifted to District Hospital Kathua for the post-mortem through a team of doctors. After the post-mortem, the dead body was handed over to the family for last rites,” police said
“Investigation of the case is in progress to collect more evidence about the commission of offence by the accused,” the police said.
