In the controversial rape and killing of eight-year-old nomad girl, Asifa, alleged mastermind Sanjib Ram surrendered before the Crime Branch on March 20.
The accused, Sanji Ram, 60, a former revenue official, has been evading arrest after police learnt about his involvement. His surrender happened a day after his son Vishal’s arrest from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
Ram is believed to have engineered the rape and murder of Asifa to create fear among Muslim nomadic families in Jammu”s Rasana village and force them to leave.
Asifa was kidnapped from Rasana village on January 10. According to investigations, she was drugged and held captive for a week before being murdered.
Investigators said Ram motivated special police officer Deepak Khajuria, who has been arrested, to execute the heinous crime.
So far, the Crime Branch has arrested seven people including a sub-inspector, head constable and two special police officers in the case.
While Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has assured justice to the victim’s family, a recently formed outfit, Hindu Ekta Manch, spearheaded several protests demanding transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The ruling alliance partner BJP also supported the Manch’s demand. A few BJP ministers had met the CM and pushed for CBI-led probe but she had turned down their request.
