Srinagar, Jan 23: Government on Tuesday said that it handed over the case of murdering 8-year-old Asifa Bano in Kathua district last week to Crime Branch.
“Minister Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri informed the house today that in connection with the murder of minor girl, the case has been handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)”
Veeri said that the agency will start fresh probe in to the incident.
Pertinently, Asifa Bano was abducted in Jan 10 and her body was found on Jan 17 near her native village Rassana in Hiranagar.
The legislators blamed the concerned police for hushing up the case and staged massive protests in the state assembly following which Government suspended the concerned SHO.
Soon after, the Crime Branch constituted a five-member team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police of Crime Branch to investigate the minor girl’s murder in Jammu’s Kathua district.
The development came after the government said that it has handed over the case of murder of eight-year-old Asifa Bano in Kathua district last week to the Crime Branch.
“The Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Peerzada Naveed Additional SP Crime Branch Kashmir is hereby constituted for carrying out further investigation of the case. The team should finalize the investigation expeditiously and submit progress reports to this office on regular basis,” said an order issued by Additional Director General of Police, State Crime Branch Headquarters, J&K, Jammu.
The team will comprise Nissar Hussain Dy SP Crime Branch Jammu, Shetambari Sharma Dy Sp Crime Branch Jammu, Urfan Wani SI Crime Branch Jammu and ASI Tariq Ahmed No 118/CR of P/S CBK.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir government said that it has handed over the case of murder of eight-year-old Asifa Bano in Kathua district last week to the Crime Branch.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri informed the house today that in connection with the murder of minor girl, the case has been handed over to Crime Branch.
Gujjar community threatens agitation
The relatives of eight-year-old Asifa who was allegedly raped and subsequently murdered in Kathua last week held a protest in south Kashmir’s Anantnag on Tuesday, and threatened of an agitation by the Gujjar community in case the authorities fail to book the culprits forthwith.
Carrying placards, the agitated relatives staged a protest outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner Anantnag to demand an independent probe into the incident.
“What had this minor done? She was with her family as part of our nomadic practice,” said the relatives of Asifa.
They added that perpetrators of this ‘heinous’ crime should be arrested forthwith.
Saying that if the government failed to provide them justice, whole Gujjar community would come on roads. “We are more than 26 lakh in population. If they fail to provide us justice, it would be a full-fledged revolt,” threatened the relatives.
Asifa, a nomad girl from Gujjar and Bakerwal community actually hails from Anantnag’s Brari Aangan village in Shangus.
She was abducted on January 10 in Kathua, where her family was camping as part of their nomadic practice. Her body was recovered on the outskirts of her native village on January 17 with marks of violence all over her body.
Her death triggered protests inside and outside the Assembly, with protesters and the opposition seeking action against the police for “not making efforts” to trace her after she was abducted.
In a damage-control move, the government suspended the local SHO for “lax” approach.
On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir government said that it has handed over her case to the Crime Branch.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri informed the house that the case has been handed over to Crime Branch.
The police, meanwhile, released social activist Advocate Talib Husain, arrested on Sunday evening at Kathua highway.
The activist has been at the forefront of protests seeking justice for 8-year-old Asifa.
Confirming Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Javid Mustafa Mir said that Talib was released this morning.
Family of the Talib also confirmed that Talib was released by the police.
Talib was arrested when he was leading a protest amid candle light on Kathua highway on Sunday evening.
Subsequently police allegedly resorted to baton charge and fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters while arresting Talib.
IGP Jammu has said that there was stone pelting as a result of which four of its personnel where injured.
