Srinagar, Dec 27: A local court in the frontier district of Kupwara charge-sheeted four people including two non-Kashmiris, in the rape and murder of a minor girl in July this year, which evoked widespread protests across the valley.

The four accused Mohammad Sadiq and Azhar Ahmad Mir and two non- locals Jehangir Ansari, a resident of West Bengal and Suresh Kumar a cobbler from Rajasthan were charge-sheeted by the sessions court, Kupwara.

The court directed all the four accused and the witnesses to be present in the court on January 21 and 22, 2008 for recording their statements.

Earlier, the court quizzed the accused about their involvement in the rape and murder of Tabinda Gani, a 14-year-old girl on July 20 this year.

The court, after hearing the arguments from both sides and going through the challans produced by the police station, Handwara, charge -sheeted the accused under Sections 341, 302, 363, 376 (g) and 34 of RPC.

Police had recorded the statements of more than 60 people in the case before producing challan in the court.

In the charge-sheet the police said the samples collected from the spot, were sent to forensic science laboratory, which confirmed that the accused were involved in the rape and murder of the minor.

The incident rocked entire Kashmir and the issue was raised in the Legislative Assembly and Council where members, cutting across the party lines, demanded setting up speedy courts to punish the accused.


UNI