Asifa rape-&-murder probe: CB arrests police SI, HC for destroying critical evidence

Jammu: In a major breakthrough in the rape and murder of Kathua minor, the crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir police has arrested a police sub-inspector and a head constable for their involvement in destruction of critical evidence.
Hawaldar Tilak Raj, posted at the Hiranagar police station, was arrested after it was prima facie established that he had washed Asifa’s clothes that were soaked in blood and mud before sending them for forensic test. Sub-inspector Anand Dutta, who was the investigative officer, has been detained for questioning, reported NDTV
“We arrested a hawaldar and a sub-inspector is being questioned in connection with destruction of evidence,” the report quoted director general of police, SP Vaid as having said.
Two special police officers, Deepak Khajuria and Surinder Verma, have already been arrested, while two more persons, including a juvenile, have also been arrested for the kidnapping, rape and murder of Asifa, mentioned the report.
Quoting police sources, the report said, the crime was carried out with a view to drive out Muslim nomads from the Hindu-dominated village.
“They claim that call details and mobile tower data place the accused on the location of crime, adding that there is evidence that drugs used to sedate Asifa was bought by Deepak Khajuria from a chemist shop in Kathua days before Asifa was kidnapped,” the report said.
In a letter to the director general of police, the crime branch has detailed lapses by the Kathua police. Besides destruction of evidence, they accuse the local police of not preserving the crime scene. No searches were carried out in the village even after Asifa’s family filed a missing complaint, the crime branch said in its letter.
Asifa was kidnapped from Rasana village on January 10. According to investigations, she was drugged and held captive for a week before being murdered.