New Delhi,
A report on the rape and murder of a minor in Kathua by a “fact-finding team of intellectuals and academicians” has raised questions on the veracity of the post-mortem reports and police investigation into the case.

Demanding that the case be handed over to the CBI, the group on Friday said this “will not only assuage the insecurities of the people of Jammu but also rectify blatant inconsistencies in the case as documented in the report”.

“The Government of Jammu and Kashmir needs to hear the voices of Jammu and not take steps that increase alienation of the population of Jammu,” said the report by the all-woman team comprising retired district Judge Meera Khadakkar, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora, senior journalist Sarjana Shanna, Delhi University Assistant Professor Sonali Chitalkar and social activist Monicca Agarwaal.

The group on Friday submitted the report to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh. Jitendra later said the team had made certain observations. However, since the case was sub judice, talking about it in public “will not be in the interest of anyone, including those trying to prove their innocence.”

“There can be no pardon for such cruel crimes. There should be strictest possible punishment for the perpetrators. At the same time, it is also our responsibility to see that if someone is innocent, he or she is given justice. I am sure the court will take cognisance of all this,” he added.

Arora, meanwhile, said the team found many discrepancies in the police account.