Hand over Kishtwar rape-death case to crime branch: Mehbooba urges Jammu and Kashmir LG

Jammu and Kashmir's PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, has urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to transfer the Kishtwar rape and murder case to the crime branch for a transparent and timely investigation. In a post on X, Mufti emphasised that this incident is a severe blow to society's moral fabric, not merely another crime against women.

Ten days after the brutal crime, the lack of action only fuels public anger and sows distrust in the justice system. If no action is taken and the culprits are not punished severely, such heinous crimes will continue unchecked, she warned. The PDP chief called on Sinha to immediately hand the case over to the crime branch for a fair, transparent and time-bound probe.

The 15-year-old tribal girl was allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted by her school teacher over several months, leading to her pregnancy. She tragically died on August 20 in Kishtwar district after attempting to end the pregnancy.