The Jammu and Kashmir police, on Tuesday, said Sanji Ram, the 'mastermind' behind the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from a nomadic tribe in the state, has surrendered.
Ram, a retired government employee, has been absconding after the Crime Branch identified him as the 'mastermind'.
Police had also arrested his son from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the case.
A senior police officer said Ram has surrendered before the Crime Branch which is investigating the case.
The accused surrendered three days after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said those involved in the murder and rape of the minor girl would be brought to book. The girl's body was found near the jungles of Rasana village at Hiranagar in Kathua on January 17, eight days after she went missing from her village, Kota.
So far, six people, including two special police officials (SPOs) and a head constable— Tilak Raj—has been arrested in connection with the case. One of the SPO's, Deepak Khajuria, was arrested by the special investigation team of the Crime Branch after it found evidence about his involvement in the crime. Khahuria had also taken part in the search that was launched by the police to trace the girl after her parents filed a missing complaint.
Raj was arrested after it was found that he had allegedly washed the bloodstained, soiled clothes of the girl before giving them for forensic analysis. Police had also arrested a juvenile before the case was handed over to the Crime Branch following public outcry.
The murder and rape of the girl, the police said, was aimed to force the Muslim nomads to migrate from the area.
The incident has strained relations between the PDP and BJP because of the motive behind the crime.
Hindu Ekta Manch (HEM), a lesser known organisation in Kathua, has been spearheading a campaign for handing over the case to the CBI, claiming that police was not trustworthy.
However, sources said, HEM has come to the aid of the accused because of the communal nature of the crime.
The BJP has found itself in a difficult position over the issue.
Two senior BJP ministers—Forest Minister Lal Singh and Industries Minister Chander Prakash Ganga—also joined a rally by HEM, in support of their demand for a CBI probe.
BJP MP and minister of state in PMO Jitender Singh Rana has also supported a call by the HEM for a CBI probe. BJP national general secretary has also urged the government to handle the case with care.