‘BJP not demanding CBI probe into Kuthua incident’

Srinagar: A day after the PDP accused BJP of “communalizing” the Kuthua rape and murder incident, the latter on Saturday said that “seeking justice” was not communalization.
BJP National Vice-President, Avinesh Rai Khanna, said that seeking justice was not communalising the incident.
“Government should consider everyone’s sentiments. Everyone has own sentiments,” Khanna was quoted as saying by local news gathering agency KNS.
When asked whether the case should be referred to Central Bureau of Investigation as demanded by the Hindu Ekta Manch and few BJP leaders, he refused to comment. “What we want that justice shall be delivered to everyone,” he added.
A local daily on Saturday quoted PDP Chief Spokesperson Rafi Ahmad Mir that BJP was communalising the Kuthua rape and murder incident.
“The police is already investigating the case. There is no need to refer the case to the CBI. The Crime Branch shall be allowed to go for formal investigation of the case. This is the stand of the PDP and the state government,” the newspaper quoted Mir having said.
He also accused the BJP leaders of giving the Kuthua incident a “communal colour”.
While commenting, BJP State General Secretary Ashok Koul blamed the NC and Congress for “communalizing” the incident. “Some people of BJP get provoked and fall in trap of the NC and Congress ,” Koul said.
He said that BJP was not demanding that case should be referred to the CBI. “Our leaders went in the rally because we have to face people there. People want CBI probe and it is not the demand of the BJP,” he said.
On January 17, body of Muslim girl was found in the forests near Rasana, Hiranagar. A minor, the girl had been missing for a week. According to police, she had been abducted and raped, while media reports later revealed that she had been even drugged to keep her from trying for help.
On January 23, the Mehbooba Mufti government had ordered a probe into the incident, and subsequently handed over the case to the Crime Branch of police.
Hindu Ekta Manch has been protesting in support of the arrested policeman, demanding transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
While on Thursday, two BJP ministers, Chandra Prakash and Chowdhary Lal Singh attended a rally of Hindu Ekta Manch held in support of the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case in Jammu. They criticized the state government for handing over case to the Crime Branch.