Protests continued in the Gurinala area of Chatroo in Kishtwar district on Friday over the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl, with local residents demanding that the investigation be handed over to the Crime Branch.
The protests have drawn the participation of political leaders and MLAs, who have been visiting the protesting residents amid growing demands for a wider investigation.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Public demand: Residents are seeking a Crime Branch investigation amid continuing protests.
SIT probe: Police have formed an SIT headed by the Additional SP Kishtwar.
Six arrests: Six people have been arrested so far, including a nurse.
Legal framework: The FIR invokes provisions of the POCSO Act, BNS and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Political intervention: Political representatives have visited protesters, while G.M. Saroori said he raised the matter with the Lieutenant Governor.
Following directions from SSP Kishtwar, an Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the case. The SIT is being headed by Additional SP Kishtwar Pradeep Goria.
Police have so far arrested six people in connection with the investigation, including a female nurse.
The latest arrest was that of Sonika, a nurse at District Hospital Kishtwar, who has been identified by police as the sixth accused in the investigation into the suspicious death of the minor girl, aged around 15–16 years.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The continuing protests and demand for a Crime Branch probe underline the public pressure for a transparent investigation into the death of the minor.
The case is registered under FIR No. 34/2026 at Police Station Chatroo under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Former Minister and former MLA from Inderwal, G.M. Saroori, said he had spoken over the phone with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha regarding the matter.
According to Saroori, the Lieutenant Governor assured him that the case would be handed over to the Crime Branch within days.
The protests are continuing as residents seek a broader investigation and accountability in the case.
Police investigation remains underway, while the SIT is examining the circumstances surrounding the girl's death and the allegations connected with the case.
