Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Sunday that there was “absolutely no need” for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district after she was allegedly gangraped, The Indian Express reported. “If you don’t trust the Jammu and Kashmir Police, there is no one left to be trusted in the state,” she said.
“To question the officers of the Crime Branch team based on their religion or which region they belong to is shameful and dangerous,” the chief minister said. “Each time there is a crime, we can’t organise a referendum to choose the team of investigators.” She said those who have been questioning the investigation had “vested interests” – they wanted to protect the perpetrators of the crime.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is a coalition partner of Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party in the state, has appeared to back the demand for a CBI inquiry. It’s state unit has released a video questioning the police investigation. The Hindu Ekta Manch as well as the Kathua bar association have demanded a CBI investigation. Two of the accused have filed a petition in the Supreme Court to this effect.
“My question is, why are the accused in this case desperately seeking a CBI inquiry?” Mufti asked. “Why are they convinced about the outcome of such an inquiry? And when does a government decide the investigating agency based on what the accused in such a case want? We have serious challenges ahead and we cannot allow a communal flare-up to burn everything in our state. Our government handled this case very well.”
Mufti said that her government was concerned about communal violence because the Amarnath yatra would begin in a month. She said that instead of coming together to support the victim’s family, parties and groups have been playing divisive politics over the case.
The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a petition by the child’s father, seeking transfer of the trial to Chandigarh. On Friday, the prime accused filed a plea in the top court demanding that the security provided to the victim’s family and lawyer be withdrawn.
On Sunday, the girl’s father said he was satisfied with the police investigation and had full faith in the judiciary, according to PTI. He added that he had “devoted my life to ensure justice is done to my daughter”.
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