Jammu, Oct 10 (KNS): A court in Kishtwar on Saturday rejected the bail applications of three accused in a case involving the death of a minor girl in Chatroo, citing the seriousness of the allegations, the ongoing investigation and the possibility of witnesses being influenced.

Principal Sessions Judge Kishtwar Sudhir Kumar Khajuria dismissed the bail pleas of Sonika Parihar, Zareena Begum and Peer Baksh Bumal in FIR No. 27/2026, registered at Police Station SCW Crime Branch, Jammu.

According to an official statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Prosecution Department, the accused face charges under Sections 61(2), 65(1), 90, 91 and 92 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 4, 6, 8, 10 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The prosecution, represented by Public Prosecutor Anshuman Dubay and assisted by advocate Irfan Khan on behalf of the victim, opposed the bail applications, arguing that the allegations involved serious offences carrying punishment extending to life imprisonment.

The prosecution submitted that the investigation was still underway and DNA and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports were awaited, making the release of the accused inappropriate at the present stage.

It also raised concerns about the possibility of witnesses being influenced if the accused were granted bail.

During the proceedings, the prosecution highlighted legal requirements concerning notice to the victim's family under Section 40 of the POCSO Act and Rule 4, besides alleged non-compliance with disclosure requirements under a High Court notification and the Supreme Court's judgment in Zeba Khan versus State of Uttar Pradesh.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The prosecution also contested medical grounds raised in support of the bail applications, submitting that appropriate medical care was available in custody.

The court observed that the investigation was continuing and that the present stage did not warrant a detailed examination of evidence.

It also noted that the medical conditions cited by one of the applicants appeared to be age-related rather than life-threatening.

After considering the submissions, the court dismissed all three bail applications.

In a separate case, Principal Sessions Judge Budgam O P Bhagat rejected the bail application of Bilal Ahmad Bhat on October 8 in FIR No. 75/2026, registered at Police Station Beerwah.

The accused faces charges under Section 137(2) of the BNS and Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act.

Public Prosecutor Suhaib Ashraf opposed the application, citing the gravity of the allegations and the possibility of evidence tampering.

The court held that public interest and the interests of the victim's family outweighed the grounds advanced for bail at that stage.

It further observed that a delay in recording witness statements could not, by itself, justify granting bail in a POCSO case.

The Prosecution Department said four bail applications had been rejected in the two cases on October 8 and 10 following arguments presented by its public prosecutors.

The department appreciated the efforts of the prosecutors and reiterated its commitment to child protection, victims' rights and evidence-based prosecution.

The rejection of bail does not constitute a finding of guilt, and the allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and judicial determination. (KNS)