Kishtwar, August 26, 2026: District Police Kishtwar has arrested Sonika, a nurse at District Hospital Kishtwar, as the sixth accused in connection with the suspicious death of a minor girl from the Chatroo area, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six.
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 inquest, material indicating the commission of cognizable offences surfaced, following which the proceedings were 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. Sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(2)(v) and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were subsequently 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.
During 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 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 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, the alleged involvement of Farooq Ahmed, a daily-wage/sweeper employee at District Hospital Kishtwar, also surfaced.
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 five accused already arrested, the role of Sonika, a nurse at District Hospital Kishtwar, subsequently surfaced during the investigation in connection with the medical-treatment aspect of the case. Based on the material collected by the SIT, she was arrested as the sixth accused, taking the total number of arrests to six.
The SIT is examining all aspects of the case, including the circumstances surrounding the minor’s death, the alleged sexual assault, pregnancy, alleged attempts to terminate it, the medical treatment provided to her, and the role of every person found connected with the matter.
Police said further arrests, wherever warranted by evidence, are being pursued and strict legal action will be taken against every person found involved in accordance with law.
SSP Kishtwar Naresh Singh-JKPS reiterated that the investigation is being conducted in a fair, impartial, professional, scientific and evidence-based manner, with every aspect of the case being thoroughly examined.
