Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 20: A day after arrest of the alleged accused, the State Government today announced suspension of the concerned Station House Officer after the opposition Congress and National Conference members created pandemonium in the Legislative Assembly over the minor girl’s death, who was found murdered after a week of her missing in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district.
Even as the Minister for Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, A R Veeri repeatedly sought to pacify the agitating members by assuring that the Government was equally concerned over the shocking incident and a magisterial inquiry has already been ordered besides arrest of the accused within 24 hours, the protesting MLAs trouped into Well of the House seeking immediate suspension of the concerned Police Officers.
During the half an hour long pandemonium, some agitating Congress and NC MLAs also entered into verbal dual with BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, who accused the former of trying to give regional and communal colour to the unfortunate incident.
The issue was raised by Congress MLA Usman Majid, who alleged a conspiracy to shield the real culprits in the gruesome case and demanded immediate suspension of the concerned SHO as well as DySP for their alleged failure. “The victim was kept in illegal confinement for seven days in a cow shed where she was tortured and raped while her body was found lying around three kilometers from that spot. How, a 15-year old boy can do all this?”, he asked while alleging those real culprits were being shielded by projecting a juvenile as lone accused.
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Usman Majid was supported by other Opposition MLAs, who also sought immediate suspension of the concerned SHO and DySP for ensuring a fair investigation and magisterial probe. “Police is trying to shield the real culprits. Why didn’t the SHO visit to the cow shed, which was within the jurisdiction?”, asked G M Saroori and supported the demand for immediate suspension of the concerned Police Officers.
As the BJP MLA from Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia, who was about to speak on Discussion of Grants in the House when the trouble erupted, said that they also condemned the incident but the opposition was trying to communalize it on regional lines, the entire opposition created ruckus and troped into Well of the House amidst raising of slogans.
Vikar Rasool, Usman Majid, Deldan Namgyal and Abdul Majeed Larmi and Altaf Ahmad Kallo among others were seen shouting slogans like ‘Culprits Ko Fansi Do’, Laadli Beti Ko Insaaf Do’.
“ Hiranagar MLA should have raised the issue as the incident took place in his constituency,” the protesting Members said and went back near their seats as Minister A R Veeri stood announcing that the magisterial inquiring was going on and the accused has been arrested.
Not satisfied with the Minister’s remark, Ali Mohd Sagar of National Conference led the Opposition Members again into Well of the House amidst raising of slogans. NC MLA Mian Altaf said that they didn’t want to give the incident a communal colour but the BJP was trying to do the same. “BJP Member should not have made such remarks,” he said.
As Veeri again tried to pacify the Opposition Members, Vikar Rasool stressed that Chief Minister should give a reply on the issue since the matter pertains to the Home Department.
“On behalf on CM and the Government, I am assuring you that necessary action is being taken in the matter, which is not a political but human issue,” Veeri said adding that if any loophole was detected in the investigation, the Members could point out the same.
As the Opposition members kept insisting for suspension of the concerned Police Officers, Speaker Kavinder Gupta intervened and asked Veeri to address to the concern of the MLAs.
Hakim Yasin also supported the demand of Opposition Members and suggested that the Government should shift the concerned Police officers to ensure that an independent investigation was being carried out.
Ali Mohammad Sagar said that if the Government had suspended the officers earlier, a clear and strong message would have gone to the department. He warned that the opposition would not allow the House proceedings unless action is taken.
Following this, Veeri announced shifting of the concerned SHO while Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, Javed Mustafa Mir made it clear that the said SHO has been suspended.
Meanwhile, Chief Judicial Magistrate Kathua Amarjeet Singh Langeh today sent the accused to Juvenile Home RS Pura for 10 days.
The accused was produced in the Court of CJM in connection with FIR. No. 10 of 2018 for offences under sections 363, 343 and 302 of RPC alongwith Case Diary with the prayer for grant of ten days remand to Juvenile Home in respect of delinquent/juvenile.
The CJM after perusal of the Case Diary, observed that as per school record, date of birth of delinquent is stated to be 23-10-2003. Prima facie therefore he is juvenile within the meaning of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2013. He further observed that offences under sections 302 and 363 of RPC in which involvement of juvenile is alleged are grave, heinous and non-bailable in nature. “Investigation is going on. Juvenile therefore is directed to be kept in Juvenile Home at R.S.Pura, Jammu for a period of ten days from today till 29-01-2018. On the expiry of said period, he be produced before the competent court of law for further orders. Medical examination report of juvenile is also seen. SIT shall take all requisite measures that are required to be taken under law in respect of juvenile. Special Investigating Team shall be at liberty to take appropriate procedural steps should it sense necessity of interrogation of juvenile in the case in order to disinter any useful information,” the CJM observed.
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