The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has raised questions over the age of accused “juvenile” arrested in connection with the rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomad girl in Kathua.
A source told Greater Kashmir that the date of birth certificate of the accused obtained from local Municipal Committee and the one obtained from Modern Public Higher Secondary Hira Nagar were at variance. “The Crime Branch had moved an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Kathua to ascertain the age of the accused by a radiologist but the same was turned down by the Court,” the source said.
According to the source, the preliminary medical report has confirmed that the victim was raped. “The experts have confirmed that the victim was sexually assaulted,” he said.
As already reported by Greater Kashmir, the victim was drugged by the accused so that she would not cry for help.
The Crime Branch has also identified the drug and the shop where from the accused had purchased drugs.
The victim was abducted on January 10 from RasanaKathua when she had gone to take horses owned by her family to a nearby pond for drinking water.
Her mutilated body was found seven days later on the outskirts of her village. The horrific crime has evoked massive protests across J&K.