by
Asif Iqbal Naik
SRINAGAR: The investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation and subsequent death of a minor girl from the Chatroo area of Kishtwar has widened further, with the Crime Branch arresting two more persons, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 12.
The latest arrests include Haroon Mir, a medical shop owner, and Abdul Latief Banday, a government teacher posted at Middle School Major in Inderwal Zone. Their alleged roles surfaced during the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the minor’s pregnancy, the subsequent medical treatment and the events preceding her death.
The case, initially registered as FIR No. 34/2026 at Police Station Chatroo, was later transferred to the Special Crime Wing of the Crime Branch, Jammu who register fresh FIR No. 27 at its own police station. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining the entire sequence of events and the alleged role of every person connected with the case.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the victim’s father has alleged that Haroon Mir played a significant role after the family came to know about the minor’s pregnancy. He has alleged that Mir discouraged him from immediately approaching the police and allegedly attempted to prevent the matter from coming into the open.
Investigators are also examining allegations that Mir was operating a medical shop illegally from within the premises of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Chatroo and whether medicines or other assistance were provided in connection with the minor’s pregnancy.
The role of Abdul Latief Banday is also under investigation.
According to the sources, Banday allegedly travelled around 30 kilometres from Kishtwar to Chatroo at Haroon Mir’s request and accompanied the minor and her father to Kishtwar for an ultrasound examination.
The ultrasound reportedly confirmed that the minor was pregnant. The circumstances in which the family was taken for the examination, the persons involved and the subsequent steps taken after the pregnancy was confirmed are now part of the Crime Branch investigation.
The latest arrests come after the Crime Branch & Kishtwar Police who probe the case earlier had already arrested ten persons during the investigation. Those arrested earlier include alleged prime accused and government teacher Khalid Hussain Sheikh, his brother Tariq Hussain, Riyaz Hussain, Mohd Isaq, Farooq Ahmed, nurse Sonika Parihar, sanitation worker Zareena Begum, Noor Din, Haji Ghulam Qadir Sheikh and Peer Bakash.
The Crime Branch is examining the alleged role of these persons in different stages of the case, including the alleged sexual exploitation of the minor, discovery and concealment of the pregnancy, attempts to terminate the pregnancy, medical treatment, transportation of the victim and the circumstances surrounding her death.
The government has also dismissed Khalid Hussain Sheikh from service under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution in connection with the serious allegations against him.
According to the Crime Branch status report submitted before the Principal Sessions Court, Kishtwar, investigators have collected medical records from PHC Chatroo, District Hospital Kishtwar and GMC Doda.
The investigation has established that the minor was transported towards GMC Doda after her condition deteriorated. During the journey, she reportedly delivered a premature/dead male child. Her condition subsequently deteriorated further and she was referred onward in Ambulance 108, but died while being shifted.
The Crime Branch has seized the private vehicles allegedly used for transporting the minor and examined the persons involved in the transportation. Call Detail Records of persons connected with the case have also been collected and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.
A crucial aspect of the investigation remains unresolved—the identity of the biological father of the newborn male child has not yet been established.
The Crime Branch has preserved biological samples and viscera for forensic examination and DNA profiling. Sources familiar with the investigation said more than 30 persons, including some minors, have been subjected to DNA sampling/testing as investigators seek to establish the biological parentage of the newborn.
“At this stage, it would be premature and factually incorrect to identify any person as the biological father of the child. The question of paternity remains entirely subject to the DNA examination and the final forensic report” the sources disclosed.
The DNA evidence is expected to be crucial in establishing the biological relationship between the newborn and persons whose roles have emerged during the investigation. It could also help investigators establish the complete sequence of events surrounding the minor’s pregnancy and determine the precise role, if any, of different individuals.
The Crime Branch has informed the court that the investigation remains in progress and that several forensic and other material reports are still awaited. Biological samples, viscera and other evidence have been preserved and sent for scientific examination.
Investigators are also scrutinising hospital records, statements of material witnesses, call records, transportation details and other documentary and electronic evidence.
The Crime Branch is continuing to examine whether any individuals attempted to suppress information about the minor’s pregnancy, facilitated or encouraged any unlawful medical intervention, misled the victim’s family or otherwise interfered with the chain of events leading to her death.
With the arrest of Haroon Mir and Abdul Latief Banday, the investigation has now expanded further into the alleged network of persons who came into contact with the minor and her family after the pregnancy was discovered.
The Crime Branch has maintained before the court that the investigation is being conducted in accordance with law and that the specific role attributable to each accused and other persons connected with the case is being ascertained on the basis of documentary, medical, forensic and other evidence.
The final forensic and DNA reports are therefore expected to be significant in determining several unanswered questions in the case, particularly the biological parentage of the newborn and the precise sequence of events preceding the minor’s death. As per offical sources, more arrest in the case in coming days are expected.
