KISHTWAR : The Chatroo tragedy involving the alleged rape, pregnancy and subsequent death of a teenage girl student has continued to send shockwaves across Kishtwar, with the investigation widening and the number of arrests reaching six.
The 15-year-old girl died on August 20 after allegedly suffering fatal complications during an attempt to terminate her pregnancy.
The case has raised disturbing questions over how a minor student allegedly became pregnant, who facilitated the abortion attempt and whether critical medical and other evidence was properly preserved.
Police have arrested school teacher Khalid Hussain Sheikh, who was posted at Government Middle School, Gorinal, where the girl was studying, along with his brother Tariq Hussain. The investigation subsequently led to more arrests, including persons associated with the alleged abortion attempt. The arrest of a nurse, identified as Sonika Parihar, has taken the total number of arrests to six.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional SP Kishtwar Pardeep Singh has been constituted to investigate the case. The SIT includes DSP PC Dachhan Nitish Sharma, SHO Chatroo Inspector Rishi Kumar and other police personnel.
While the School Education Department has suspended the arrested teacher, widespread public anguish and outrage continue to grip the J&K UT, particularly the Chenab Valley.
Agitated citizens are demanding a Crime Branch probe and exemplary punishment for the accused government school teacher.