The Jammu and Kashmir government has handed over the Shopian rape and murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case was earlier being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the J&K Police.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had said earlier that it will not stand in the way of a CBI probe in the Shopian alleged case.

The state government had said they were in favour of a CBI probe if the J&K High Court allowed it.

The case had created a lot of furore in the state and angry residents resorted to largescale protests against the administration.

And since the murders, Shopian has virtually been a no-entry zone for the government. No minister has visited, fearing backlash from angry residents demanding justice.

However, after more than three months of hostility and agitation against the government over the killing and rape and of two women in the district, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, for the first time, reached out to the people of this area during his visit on Tuesday.

Omar promised that he will deliver justice in the case.