The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday asked Central Bureau of Investigation Director Alok Kumar Verma to file an affidavit in the Kotkhai rape and murder case, ANI reported. The court will hear the case next on January 10.

The agency has set up a Special Investigation Team, headed by an additional superintendent-rank officer from Delhi and two deputy superintendent-rank officers, to investigate the case.

Six men were arrested on the charges of raping and murdering a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Kothkai near Shimla on July 4. The girl was reportedly returning from school when the accused offered her a lift. The men took her to a nearby forest where they allegedly raped her before killing her. The girl’s body was found two days later on July 6.

One of the accused, Suraj Singh, died while in police custody on July 19. He was allegedly killed by Rajendra Singh, the main accused.

The incident set off violent protests as agitators threw stones, burnt vehicles and attempted to set the Kotkhai police station ablaze before attacking police personnel. The next day, shops, schools and business establishments remained shut in protest against the alleged gangrape and the custodial death.