The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of a 13-year-old girl who was found hanging in August last year, expressing serious dissatisfaction with the manner in which the local police handled the case.
In a sharp rebuke to the district police, Justice Rahul Bharti said the court was “far from being impressed, lest convinced, that any serious-minded effort is afoot” to ascertain the real cause of the minor’s death.
The girl, a resident of a village in Bhalwal tehsil, was found hanging on August 15, 2024. Suspecting that his daughter had been raped and murdered, her father approached the High Court on October 8, 2024, through his counsel.
He sought transfer of the investigation to the Crime Branch, Jammu, alleging a complete failure on the part of the police to conduct a meaningful probe into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Taking exception to the status reports filed by the police, Justice Bharti noted in his eight-page order dated December 10 that the initial inquiry was entrusted to a probationary sub-inspector. The court observed that this itself reflected a “routine mindset” in dealing with a case involving the suspicious death of a minor girl.
The court further warned that continued delay in investigation would lead to the loss of crucial evidence, cautioning that any eventual outcome would be “nothing but an adulterated version” of events.
Referring to the first status report filed on October 31, 2024, by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Akhnoor, the court noted that it consisted of a two-page, para-wise ritual statement, indicating that the two-month period had yielded no meaningful factual inputs for the court.
The court also took note of the second status report, which referred to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report stating that no common poison, drug, or human spermatozoa were detected in the exhibits sent for examination.
According to the final opinion of the medical board, based on postmortem findings along with FSL and histopathological examination (HPE) reports, the cause of death was stated to be ‘asphyxia’ due to ante-mortem hanging, as alleged.
Holding that the facts and circumstances warranted judicial intervention, the High Court said it was “fully convinced that it is a case which requires an investigation to be done by none else than the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)”.
The court directed the personal appearance of the in-charge Special Investigation Team, the SDPO, Akhnoor, and the Superintendent of Police, CBI Jammu, V. Chandu. It also ordered the production of the entire inquest and inquiry record on the next date of hearing, scheduled for December 18.
The order marks a significant step in the case, with the High Court signalling a loss of confidence in the local police investigation into the minor’s death.
