Dineshwar Sharma, the government of India’s special representative to Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday evening met with the police officers tasked with the responsibility of investigating the infamous rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl in Kathua, in January this year. What transpired in the meeting was not known, but it could be safely assumed that the ongoing investigation into the terrible atrocity was the focus of discussion.
Sharma, who was on a four day visit to Jammu since April 25, sat with Ramesh Jalla, Senior Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch, Jammu and SulemanChoudhary, the then SSP Kathua, who was recently shifted to the police headquarters.
“In separate close door meetings, both Jalla and Choudhary had spent an hour with former intelligence officer and briefed him about the case,” a source told the Greater Kashmir. After meeting with the police officials at the state guest house, Sharma had more rounds of meetings with other police officials involved in the investigation in the police headquarters.
“Sharma returned back to guest house around 22.45 pm,” said another source, adding, “Sharma will brief Union Home Minister Raj Nath Singh about the case at Delhi with the first hand information he get from the officers.”
Before leaving for New Delhi on Saturday, he had an early morning meeting with the journalist Zafar Choudhary at the guest house and after that drove to the residence of A C Chaturvedi, the former DGP, J&K in RehariChungi, Jammu. Earlier, Sharma had called on Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti besides listening to public grievance at Udhampur and Kishtwar in his present visit.
Pertinently, the dastardly incident of the rape and murder in Kathua in January has sent shockwaves across the world. Outrageously, rallies and protests have also been held in Kathua and Jammu for the transfer of case to CBI in which two cabinet ministers belonging to BJP also participated. After much outrage, these two ministers have now been forced to resign. The trial, which began on April 17 was stayed by the apex court till May 7.