Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested a BJP sarpanch from central Kashmir’s Budgam district for allegedly raping a girl, sources said.

Sources told a local news agency, Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), that a girl name (withheld) was allegedly raped by a BJP sarpanch under the jurisdiction of police station Beerwah.

A written application was moved by father of the victim before Budgam police and during course of investigation, statements of victim and other witnesses under relevant provisions of law were recorded, they said adding that subsequently the allegedly accused BJP sarpanch identified as Mohammad Yousuf Ganie who was absconding was arrested on 7th June by police.

A police officer confirmed the incident to Kashmir Dot Com and said a case under FIR no 66/ 2022 under section 376, 506 of Indian Penal code was registered in a local police station.

The sarpanch has been shifted to central jail Srinagar, he said. (KDC)