Jammu, Aug 27: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested three more suspects, including the key perpetrator, in connection with the rape and death of a 15-year-old tribal girl in Kishtwar district last week, the police confirmed on Thursday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar, Naresh Singh, stated that the newly arrested individuals include a government school teacher accused of repeated sexual assault, his brother, and a daily-wager sweeper at District Hospital Kishtwar.

The minor girl allegedly died on August 20 following an abortion attempt in Chatroo area of the district.

The SSP said two of the accused have been identified as Mohd Ishaq and Riyaz Ahmed Sheikh, while the identity of the daily-wage sweeper is yet to be available.

According to the police, the minor was allegedly repeatedly raped by the teacher over several months, resulting in her pregnancy.

The Chatroo police received information about the girl’s suspicious death on August 20. As no formal complaint had initially been received, the police began inquest proceedings to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.

“During the course of the inquest, material disclosing the commission of cognizable offences surfaced,” the SSP said.

The proceedings were subsequently converted into an FIR at Chatroo police station.

The FIR was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to rape and death caused by miscarriage, among other offences. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was also invoked. During the investigation, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were added.

Given the seriousness and sensitivity of the case, the police constituted an SIT headed by Additional SP Kishtwar Pardeep Singh. The team includes Deputy Superintendent of Police Nitish Sharma, Chatroo SHO Inspector Rishi Kumar and other officers. It has been directed to conduct a thorough, scientific and time-bound investigation into all aspects of the case.

During the inquest and subsequent investigation, evidence allegedly emerged against the government teacher, including allegations that he had repeatedly sexually assaulted the minor, resulting in her pregnancy.

The probe further revealed that the teacher, allegedly in criminal conspiracy with his brother, administered medicines purportedly intended to terminate the pregnancy, Singh said.

The girl was initially taken to the Public Health Centre in Chatroo for medical treatment and was later shifted to District Hospital Kishtwar by the accused and others. The police allege that the hospital’s daily-wager sweeper was also involved in the conspiracy. The minor received treatment at the hospital and underwent an ultrasound examination.

Accordingly, Ishaq, Sheikh and the sweeper were arrested for their alleged involvement in the conspiracy, the SSP said. He added that further arrests would be made wherever warranted by evidence.

“The investigation is being conducted in a fair, impartial, professional, scientific and evidence-based manner,” Singh said, adding that every aspect of the case was being examined and legal action would be taken against anyone found involved.

Meanwhile, the local Imam of Kishtwar Jamia Masjid has called for a complete shutdown across the district on Thursday, demanding a thorough investigation and action against all those responsible. The shutdown call has received support from various organisations, including lawyers and Hindu religious bodies.

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has also issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary, Director General of Police and Kishtwar SSP, seeking their responses within five days. The commission said it may summon the officials in person if they fail to respond. It has decided to probe the alleged rape and death of the minor girl.

Kanpur, Aug 27: Two pilots were killed after a twin-engine training aircraft crashed into a field near the banks of the Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur on Thursday.

Emergency services and local authorities rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the crash. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, although officials said the aircraft apparently lost control before crashing.

Kanpur Police Commissioner, Raghubir Lal, confirmed the deaths of both the pilot and co-pilot. Police and rescue teams cordoned off the crash site and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Police said the pilot, Sachin, was a resident of Gujarat and had logged more than 3,000 flying hours, while co-pilot Abhishek Pujari was from Karnataka. Both died in the crash.

According to officials, the four-seater, twin-engine Tecnam training aircraft crashed at around 11:50 a.m. after taking off from the Garg Aviation Training Centre near Natthapurwa village under the Gwaltoli police station area.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed about the incident, and its team is expected to reach the crash site. A detailed investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. He prayed for peace for the departed souls and strength for their families to bear the loss.

Further details are awaited as authorities continue their investigation into the Kanpur crash.

The incident comes amid a series of accidents involving training aircraft in recent months. In June, a woman pilot escaped with minor injuries after a two-seater trainee aircraft crashed into a field in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj district.

Earlier, in May, a training aircraft belonging to the Redbird Flight Training Academy made a hard landing near Gojubavi village in Maharashtra’s Baramati.

Bengaluru/New Delhi, Aug 27: With one Cabinet berth still vacant in Karnataka, hectic lobbying has intensified within the ruling Congress, with senior leaders pushing for representation based on caste, region, community and gender equations.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has travelled to Delhi on Thursday and is expected to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss the Cabinet’s composition, including the vacant berth and the possibility of Minister for Planning and Statistics, B. Nagendra, resigning amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged tribal welfare irregularities case.

CM Shivakumar has sought an appointment with Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at noon. The discussions are also expected to involve AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Senior MLA Basavaraj Shivannavar is among the prominent names being backed by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Shivannavar, a senior Congress leader, is being considered for a Cabinet berth as part of efforts to maintain a balance in representation.

The name of four-time Bengaluru MLA M. Krishnappa is also being discussed, while Shivakumar is understood to be considering several other names.

The government is also under pressure to provide representation to a woman leader. MLA Annapoorna Tukaram and MLA Kampli Ganesh are among the names being considered in the current discussions.

The issue of representation to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community could gain further significance if Nagendra resigns. The BJP and JD(S) have been conducting continuous protests demanding his resignation, alleging his involvement in the alleged tribal welfare case.

Nagendra has maintained that he is being targeted and has indicated his willingness to step down if directed by the party high command.

The Congress had earlier announced the name of senior leader and MLC Gayathri Shantegowda in the list of ministers, but she was later not called for the swearing-in ceremony. Her exclusion has continued to fuel uncertainty over the Cabinet’s final composition.

Sources said Siddaramaiah is unhappy over what he considers disproportionate representation to Vokkaliga and Lingayat leaders and inadequate representation to minorities.

The former Chief Minister is understood to have conveyed his preference to the party high command for the induction of Basavaraj Shivannavar.

Despite the additional time given to Shivakumar to settle the Cabinet composition, questions over balance and representation remain.

Meanwhile, discussions are also reportedly underway over the possible resignation of some ministers, raising hopes among several senior Congress leaders that they could get an opportunity to enter the Cabinet.

PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Minister Nagendra have also reached Delhi amid the latest developments.

Sources said Nagendra has carried files and documents related to the tribal welfare case. He is also understood to have brought details concerning cases involving BJP MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy and former minister B. Sriramulu.

According to Congress sources, Nagendra could resign if the party high command directs him to do so.

Sources further said that if the high command gives its approval, the Congress is also considering organising a counter-protest march to respond to the BJP’s agitation demanding Nagendra’s resignation.

The final decision on the Cabinet vacancy, Nagendra’s future and the broader reshuffle is expected to be taken after discussions with the Congress central leadership in Delhi.