The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch today told the district and sessions judge at Pathankot in Punjab, where trial is being held in a case of rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl, that the names of witnesses should not be disclosed in advance as it was a security concern.
The crime branch was asked to submit its reply after the lawyers of the accused had filed a plea before the court, saying that they should be informed in advance about the witnesses by the prosecution.
"We submitted the application on behalf of the crime branch in which we have highlighted why the names of witnesses cannot be disclosed in advance. This includes intimidation of witnesses, their security.
"We have highlighted how the defence lawyers were misleading about the trial as well. We plan to move another application tomorrow to inform the court how the defence lawyers were misleading the public by giving out wrong information," Special Public Prosecutor J K Chopra told PTI.
He said the trial court would soon be taking a decision on the application submitted by the crime branch.
The prosecution highlighted that some vested groups in Hiranagar and Kathua area had started a well-organised campaign against the investigating agency by large-scale propaganda on electronic, print and social media to "mislead the masses".
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The prosecution also brought to notice that a targeted campaign to intimidate witnesses had come to fore.
"One such instance where a material witness in the case was influenced by some groups has already been brought to the notice of honourable trial court," the application said.
The application also said that the case had taken "communal overtones" with some political leaders backing the accused in the case.
Chopra said the role of state MLA Choudhary Lal Singh had also been brought before the judge along with the newspaper cuttings.
"...former minister and BJP MLA from Basohli assembly constituency, Choudhary Lal Singh, who hails from Kathua district has reportedly floated an organisation namely 'Dogra Swabhiman Sanghathan' on July 22. The purpose of this organisation has, among other objectives, been formulated to defend the accused in the case as well as discredit the investigating agency."