JAMMU: A J&K Police SIT has filed a 1,000-page chargesheet against 15 people in connection with a 15-year-old girl’s repeated rape in Kishtwar by a teacher and her death during a botched abortion attempt in Aug this year.The chargesheet filed on Saturday in the court of the Kishtwar principal district and sessions judge names teacher Khalid Hussain as the prime suspect and others as those who abetted in covering up the rape and pregnancy of the teenager. The other accused include Khalid’s brother Tariq, two doctors, two govt hospital staffers and a pharmacy shop owner.Khalid, then serving as acting headmaster of Govt Middle School in Kishtwar’s Bumalpora, is accused of sexually exploiting the minor tribal for several months before she died during the alleged illegal attempt to terminate her pregnancy in Kishtwar’s Chatroo area on Aug 20.Her death had sparked outrage and protests, prompting authorities to suspend Khalid and announce the SIT headed by SSP Sanjay Parihar under supervision of IG Sarah Rizvi. Khalid and Tariq are in jail.“SIT filed the chargesheet under provisions of BNS,
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POCSO Act, SC/ST (PoA) Act and MTP Act against the accused. Investigation is continuing and a supplementary chargesheet may be filed in the coming weeks. Crime branch reiterates its commitment to a fair, impartial and thorough investigation and ensuring justice is done in the case,” a police spokesperson said.Investigations revealed that the victim’s pregnancy came to light during tests at a govt health centre in Chatroo on Aug 10. Instead of reporting the matter to the police, as the law mandates in cases involving minors, Khalid allegedly conspired with others to suppress the matter and arrange for the illegal abortion.“The victim’s father was prevented from approaching the police and subjected to pressure, including threats of social boycott. A settlement deed (razi-nama) was prepared at a local meeting at the residence of one of the accused. SIT has seized this document and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) Jammu has confirmed the writing and signatures on it,” the police spokesperson said.
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