Srinagar: In startling revelation about how local police handled the rape and murder case of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua, NDTV reported that the Jammu and Kashmir crime branch have exposed that attempts were made by police to ‘destroy evidence’ in the case during its investigations.
“Asifa’s clothes that were soaked in blood and mud were washed by the Kathua police before they were sent to a forensic laboratory,” NDTV said citing a letter written by the crime branch’s additional director general to Director General of Police SP Vaid.
The report further says that ‘the crime scene was never preserved by the police’, and ‘that no search was carried out in the village even after Asifa’s family filed a missing complaint’.
Two special police officers from the Hiranagar police station, have already been arrested for their alleged involvement in the case.
Asifa was kidnapped from Rasana village on January 10. According to investigations, she was drugged and held captive for a week before being murdered.
“Action will be taken and it will become part of investigations. Anybody found wanting in his professional job shall be proceeded against departmentally and legally,” NDTVquoted Vaid saying.
Last week two senior BJP ministers Chandra Prakash Gupta and Lal Singh attended a rally organised by the Hindu Ekta Manch, the group that has been spearheading the protest over the arrests. Mr Ganga termed the crime branch probe as “jungle raj” and directed the police not to make any more arrests.
Addressing a crowd, NDTV quoted Singh saying: “What if a girl has died? Many girls have died here”.
Sanji Ram, a retired revenue officer, has been a key driver of the Hindu Ekta Manch protests. Officials say he is the custodian of the premises where Asifa was held captive.
The NDTV report further said that Ram rejects the allegations, claiming that he is being hounded by the crime branch as he has opposed plans by the nomads to build a mosque in the village. Asifa’s family say there was no such plan.
Villagers barred Asifa’s father from burying his daughter’s body in the land he owned. The little girl was finally laid to rest in a forest several kilometres away, reported NDTV
