Jammu: The ruling PDP-BJP government on Friday assured that thorough investigation will be conducted into murder of a minor nomad girl in the Kathua district last month.
Minister for Revenue, Hajj and Auqaf and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri said that strict action will be taken against the culprits.
He said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by Crime Branch to investigate the recent murder of a minor girl in district Kathua.
The Minster was responding to the Calling Attention Notice moved by M Y Tarigami in the Legislative Assembly in this regard.
He said the SIT comprises Peerzada Naveed Ahmad, Additional SP Crime Branch Kashmir, Shwetambari Sharma, Dy SP Crime Branch Jammu, Nissar Hussain Dy SP Crime Branch Jammu, SI Urfan Wani of Crime Branch Jammu and ASI Tariq Ahmad of Crime Branch, Kashmir. He said the team is taking requisite steps for collection of evidence connected with the crime and criminal to finalize the case.
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 of the police.
The girl’s 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 has said.
Members had asked how a minor alone could have carried the dead 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.
