New Delhi:
Its reservations against taking over the case notwithstanding, CBI was on Tuesday asked by the Centre to investigate the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Department of Personnel and Training has issued a notification under section five of Delhi Special Police Establishment Act and CBI will take over the case in a day or two," CBI spokesman Harsh Bahal said.
CBI Director Ashwani Kumar had said on Sunday that the agency had informed the government about its reservations to take up the case but left a final decision to the government.
Jammu and Kashmir government had on September nine approached the Centre for ordering a CBI probe into the alleged rape and murder, which had sparked widespread street protests in Shopian for days together, after the Special Investigating Team of the state failed to make any breakthrough into the case.
A notification issued by the state government to the Department of Personnel requested for a CBI probe into death of Neelofar (22) and Aasiya (17) whose bodies were found on May 30 this year.
The state government had informed the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that it would be transferring the case to CBI to which the court had replied that it did not have any objection but would continue to monitor the progress in the case.
According to an official spokesperson of the state, the government formally approached the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training along with copies of FIR proforma and other related documents of the Shopian case for entrusting the case to the CBI.
Financial Commissioner (Home) issued a notification which says "in pursuance of section six of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby accords its consent to the extension of powers and jurisdiction of the members of CBI to the State."
This has been done for investigation of offences arising out of FIR number 112/2009, regarding gruesome murder of Neelofar Jan, wife of Shakeel Ahmad Ahanger, and Asiya Jan, daughter of Abdul Gani Ahanger, residents of Bongam, Shopian registered in police station, Shopian, it said.