Kishtwar, August 26, 2026: District Police Kishtwar has arrested three more accused persons in connection with the suspicious death of a minor girl from the Chatroo area, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.
Sharing details, SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh-JKPS said Police Station Chatroo received information on August 20 regarding the suspicious death of the minor, aged around 15–16 years. As no formal complaint had initially been received, police initiated inquest proceedings to ascertain the circumstances surrounding her death.
During the course of the inquest, material indicating the commission of cognizable offences surfaced. The proceedings were subsequently converted into FIR No. 34/2026 at Police Station Chatroo under Sections 4/6/8/10/17 of the POCSO Act and Sections 61(2)/65(1)/90/91/92 of the BNS. During further investigation, Sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were also invoked.
In view of the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, SSP Kishtwar constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Addl. SP Kishtwar Pardeep Singh-JKPS. The SIT comprises Dy. SP PC Dachhan Nitish Sharma, SHO Police Station Chatroo Inspector Rishi Kumar and other officers, and has been tasked with conducting a thorough, scientific and time-bound investigation into all aspects of the case.
According to the investigation, material surfaced against Khalid Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohd. Sheikh, resident of Gorinal, Tehsil Chatroo, a teacher posted at Government Middle School, Gorinal, where the minor was studying. Police said the investigation has brought forth allegations of repeated sexual assault upon the minor, allegedly resulting in her pregnancy.
The investigation further revealed that Khalid Hussain allegedly acted in criminal conspiracy with his brother Tariq Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohd. Sheikh, resident of Gorinal, and allegedly provided/administered medicines purportedly intended to terminate the pregnancy.
Police said the investigation also revealed that during the minor’s medical treatment, she was initially taken to PHC Chatroo and subsequently shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar by Tariq Hussain and others. During this process, alleged involvement of Farooq Ahmed, a daily-wage/sweeper employee at District Hospital Kishtwar, also surfaced. The minor received medical treatment at the hospital and underwent an ultrasound examination.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Farooq Ahmed, son of Sana Ullah, resident of Sangrambatta, Kishtwar; Mohd. Ishaq, son of Mohd. Khizar; and Riyaz Ahmed, son of Ghulam Mohd. Sheikh, both residents of Sheikh Pura, Gorinal, Tehsil Chatroo, in connection with the alleged criminal conspiracy.
With these three arrests, the total number of accused arrested in the case has reached five. Police said further arrests, wherever warranted by evidence, are underway.
The SIT is examining all aspects of the case, including the circumstances surrounding the minor’s death, the alleged sexual assault, the pregnancy and alleged attempts to terminate it, as well as the circumstances surrounding her medical treatment.
SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh-JKPS reiterated that the investigation is being conducted in a fair, impartial, professional, scientific and evidence-based manner. He said every aspect of the case is being thoroughly examined and that strict legal action will be taken against any person found involved, strictly in accordance with law.
