Srinagar, Sep 16 - A high level Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team arrives here Thursday to take over the inquiry of the Shopian rape and murder case.

The 12-member team, headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG), is taking over the probe from the special investigation team (SIT) of the state police.

The case files would be handed over to the CBI after detailed discussions with the SIT officials soon after the team reaches, a senior state government officer told IANS.

The CBI was initially reluctant to take over the case, but the centre Wednesday asked the country's premier investigating agency to investigate the rape and murder of 17-year old Asiya Jan and her 22-year old sister-in-law Neelofar Jan in south Kashmir's Shopian town.

The bodies of the two victims were found by a village stream in the town on May 30.

The state high court last week granted bail to four police officers accused of 'dereliction of duty' and 'destruction of evidence' in the case.