A senior National Conference leader and MLA Kangan Mian Altaf on Monday demanded stern action against the SPO arrested in connection with the rape-and-murder of an eight-year-old nomad girl in Kathua.The legislator in the assembly said the incident sent shockwaves across the state and till date, it is the first incident of its kind in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.According to news agency GNS correspondent, MLA while quoting reports said the arrested SPO Deepak Khujaria whom police have booked under section 376 (committing rape) has confessed to the crime.“The SPO has done it as per the reports to spark fear among the nomad community,” Altaf said.He demanded an impartial investigation into the case and said SPO should be dealt with sternly so that such incidents will not be repeated in future.Mian Altaf said that “ADG Crime Alok Puri few days back said that the accused cop confessed the crime. Later when the news went viral and was published by media then he changed his statement saying they have clinching evidence against the cop. This means some pressure has started building up on the crime branch investigating agency”.Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri said that government was committed to its word that investigation with into the crime will be taken to its logical conclusion. “Those responsible for the incident will be dealt with severely,” Veeri informed the house. (GNS)