SRINAGAR: Three more persons have been arrested in connection with the suspicious death of a minor girl in Chatroo area of Kishtwar, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five, police said on Wednesday.
According to police, information regarding the suspicious death of the 15–16-year-old girl was received at Police Station Chatroo on August 20. As no formal complaint was initially received, police initiated inquest proceedings to ascertain the circumstances surrounding her death.
During the proceedings, police said, material indicating the commission of cognizable offences surfaced, following which the case was registered as FIR No. 34/2026 at Police Station Chatroo under Sections 4, 6, 8, 10 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Sections 61(2), 65(1), 90, 91 and 92 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said Sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were subsequently added during the investigation.
In view of the sensitivity of the case, SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional SP Kishtwar Pardeep Singh. The team includes DySP PC Dachhan Nitish Sharma, SHO Police Station Chatroo Inspector Rishi Kumar and other officers.
Police said the investigation has brought material against Khalid Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohd Sheikh of Gorinal, who is a teacher at Government Middle School Gorinal where the minor was studying.
According to police, the investigation has revealed allegations of repeated sexual assault on the minor, allegedly resulting in her pregnancy.
Police further alleged that Khalid Hussain acted in criminal conspiracy with his brother Tariq Hussain and that medicines were allegedly provided or administered to the minor with the purported intention of terminating the pregnancy.
The investigation also revealed that the minor was initially taken to PHC Chatroo during her medical treatment and was subsequently shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar by Tariq Hussain and others, police said.
The alleged involvement of Farooq Ahmed, a daily-wage/sweeper employee at District Hospital Kishtwar, also surfaced during the investigation. The minor received treatment at the hospital and underwent an ultrasound examination.
Police said further investigation led to the arrest of Farooq Ahmed, son of Sana Ullah of Sangrambatta, Kishtwar; Mohd Ishaq, son of Mohd Khizar; and Riyaz Ahmed, son of Ghulam Mohd Sheikh, both residents of Sheikh Pura, Gorinal, in connection with the alleged criminal conspiracy.
With the latest arrests, five accused persons have now been arrested in the case. Police said further arrests would be made wherever warranted by the evidence.
The SIT is examining the circumstances surrounding the minor’s death, the allegations of sexual assault, the pregnancy, the alleged attempt to terminate it and the circumstances related to her medical treatment.
SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh said the investigation was being conducted in a fair, impartial, professional, scientific and evidence-based manner. He said every aspect of the case was being examined and strict legal action would follow against anyone found involved, in accordance with law.
