Challan in rape, murder case of minor produced in Kashmir court

Srinagar, Sep 19 (UNI) A challan was produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) against four accused people in connection with the rape and murder of a minor girl in north Kashmir, which rocked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and evoked massive protests.

The challan was produced yesterday in the CJM court, Handwara, within two months in which 86 people stood as witnesses, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr Hasseb Mughal said.

The four accused Azher Ahmad Mir, alias Billa, Mohammad Sadiq Mir, alias, Saada Choor (both locals), Jehangir, alias Jehangir Behari, son of Siraj Din, resident of District Maida West Bengal and Suresh Kumar, alias Suresh Moochi son of Sultan Ram, resident of District Junjnu (Rajasthan), were also present in the court.

A minor, Tabinda, was abducted and later raped and killed by the accused when she was on her way back to home from school on July 20.

The investigation was conducted by SDPO Manzoor Ahmad during which about 16 suspects were rounded up. The four accused confessed their involvement in the incident which rocked the entire Kashmir and State Legislative Assembly and Council and evoked massive protests in the valley, particularly in north Kashmir.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also announced that he would take up the matter with the state Chief Justice to set up the speedy trail court.

Since two of the accused were outsiders, a number of separatist leaders and organisation demanded that all the outsiders should leave the valley after the incident. However, later Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani clarified that only those having criminal background should be forced of out the valley.

About 20,000 non-locals, working as labourers, left the valley after the threat. However, majority of them stayed back after members of the Legislative Assembly assured them of their safety.

UNI