“The accused initially administered her a locally available intoxicant. Later they gave her diazepam regularly so that she wouldn’t scream for help and catch attention of the passersby,” he said.

The investigation into the rape and murder of eight-year-old Asifa Bano of Hira Nagar Kathua has so far revealed that the accused had drugged her so that she would not cry for help, said an official privy to the probe.The investigation is being conducted by the Crime Branch of J&K police.

“The accused initially administered her a locally available intoxicant. Later they gave her diazepam regularly so that she wouldn’t scream for help and catch attention of the passersby,” he said.

The accused had held the girl captive for seven days before murdering her in a brutal manner. The official said the CB has identified the drug store where the accused had purchased drugs.

The revelations come at a time when questions are being raised over the investigation the police had carried out before handing the case over to the CB.

The police had claimed to have solved the case by arresting a “minor boy”. But the CB has so far arrested two special police officers in connection with the case.

While SPO Deepak Khajuria Khajuria is believed to be directly involved in the abduction, rape and murder of Asifa, the role of the other SPO, Surinder Kumar, in the crime is being ascertained by the CB.

Deepak was also part of the police team that had “searched” for Asifa after she went missing on January 10.

He has reportedly told the investigators that the motive behind the crime was to instill fear among the Bakerwal community.

Asifa’s family has now sought monitoring of the investigation by the High Court.

In his plea filed through advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat, Muhammad Akther, the biological father of Asifa, has submitted before the High Court that fair and impartial investigation is only possible if it (the High Court) monitors the investigation.