Kishtwar forced abortion death: Three more held; total arrests now 5

JAMMU: J&K Police have arrested three more suspects in connection with the death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl in Kishtwar district on Aug 20 following an alleged forced abortion bid, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.Two key accused — the now-suspended schoolteacher who allegedly raped the minor several times, resulting in the pregnancy, and the teacher’s brother who aided the illegal abortion attempt — were arrested earlier. The latest arrests include a sweeper at Kishtwar district hospital and two others, SSP Naresh Singh said.Police have invoked charges under relevant sections of the Pocso Act, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and BNS against the accused in the FIR registered at Chatroo PS. The autopsy report confirmed the forced abortion bid and stated that the teen was five months pregnant, police said.A preliminary probe has so far revealed that the prime accused — who taught at the govt middle school where the minor studied — and his brother allegedly provided or administered medicines to the teen to terminate the pregnancy, the SSP said. After the girl’s health deteriorated, the duo took her to Chatroo PHC and later shifted her to Kishtwar district hospital, where she underwent an ultrasound examination, the SSP said.As her condition worsened, the teen was referred to Jammu GMC, over 200km away. Complications increased en route, and she passed away in an ambulance near Doda’s Batote. The death sparked massive outrage. A shutdown was observed in Chatroo, and protests rocked other parts of Kishtwar amid demands for the strictest possible action against those responsible for the minor’s abuse and death.An SIT comprising senior officers is probing the matter, the SSP said. He did not rule out further arrests as the investigation progresses.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.