Kishtwar minor’s death: Crime Branch to probe allegations of sexual assault, cover-up

The Crime Branch of the Jammu & Kashmir government is set to investigate allegations of sexual assault and a cover-up surrounding the death of a tribal teenager in Kishtwar. This decision follows protests after allegations of prolonged sexual abuse, an attempted abortion, and her subsequent death surfaced. Six individuals, including healthcare workers and the accused headmaster, have already been arrested in connection with the case.

The girl, reportedly seven months pregnant at the time of her death, died shortly after being brought to a district hospital for an abortion attempt. The father of the deceased, who is illiterate and impoverished, filed a writ petition in the Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh High Court alleging a cover-up. He claims he only learned of his daughter's pregnancy after she was taken to a health center a fortnight before her death.

The father alleges that the headmaster and others involved in the case attempted to cover it up through various means, including a panchayat and medical facility visits for an illegal termination. The investigation by the Crime Branch is seen as crucial given the victim's age, the gravity of the allegations, and the accused's position as a government school teacher.