Srinagar, Aug 6 - The district and sessions judge of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir Thursday rejected the bail application moved by four police officers accused of destroying evidence in the rape and murder of two local women.

While rejecting the bail application, Judge Syed Tauqeer Ahmed maintained that there was prima facie evidence against the accused. He said DNA profiling of the accused was yet to be completed and if released, they might interfere with the investigation.

On July 24, the Supreme Court had directed two of the accused officers to seek bail from the district and sessions judge.

The apex court had also set aside a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order, which had directed that no subordinate court could hear the bail application of the accused.

The lawsuit had been filed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association in connection with rape and murder of 17-year-old Asiya Jan and her 22-year-old sister-in-law Neelofar, whose bodies were recovered near a stream in Shopian May 30, triggering massive protests in the Kashmir Valley.

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