The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has filed a comprehensive chargesheet against 15 individuals in connection with the alleged rape and death of a 15-year-old girl in the Kishtwar district. The meticulous chargesheet, spanning over 1,000 pages, details the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that took over the case following widespread public outcry and protests. The investigation was initiated after the tribal girl’s death in the Chatroo area on August 20, reportedly following an attempted termination of her pregnancy.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the chargesheet invokes significant legal provisions, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The extensive document has cited 143 witnesses, underscoring the depth of the investigation. The SIT’s swift action is highlighted by the fact that the chargesheet was filed within 60 days of the team assuming responsibility for the investigation on August 29. The document was formally presented before the court of the munsiff judge in Kishtwar, who is currently presiding as the principal district and sessions judge due to the regular officer’s leave.
Among the 15 accused are the teacher alleged to have repeatedly sexually assaulted the minor over several months, leading to her pregnancy. The chargesheet also names several health workers who are accused of assisting in the attempted abortion. Additionally, other individuals are implicated for allegedly attempting to broker a compromise with the victim’s family, a move seen as an effort to shield the primary accused. The case initially registered at the Chatroo police station saw its investigation transferred to the Special Crime Wing, Jammu, a week after the girl’s death amid significant public pressure. At the time of the transfer, nine individuals, including the teacher and his brother, had already been apprehended by the police.
Following the transfer, the Inspector General of Police, Crime, Sarah Rizvi, promptly constituted the SIT, placing Senior Superintendent of Police, Special Crime Wing, Jammu, Sanjay Kumar Parihar, at its head. A spokesperson for the Crime Branch stated that the team conducted a thorough examination of evidence and pursued the investigation through coordinated and sustained professional efforts, successfully concluding with the filing of the chargesheet within the legally stipulated timeframe. The Crime Branch has indicated that further investigative actions, potentially including the filing of a supplementary chargesheet, may be pursued if additional evidence comes to light, in accordance with legal procedures.
The repercussions of the alleged involvement have already led to disciplinary actions against some individuals. The accused teacher has been dismissed from his service. Furthermore, the contracts of two sanitation workers at the Kishtwar district hospital were terminated following their arrests in connection with the case. Several other individuals, including a teacher and a doctor, have been placed under suspension pending the outcome of departmental inquiries. The gravity of the allegations and the subsequent investigation highlight a disturbing pattern of abuse and potential complicity, prompting a robust response from law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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