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Kathua rape and murder LATEST UPDATES: The two BJP ministers who had defended the rape accused men have submitted their resignation to the state BJP president. Meanwhile, the prime minister also broke his silence on the issue and assured the nation of strict action in Unnao and Kathua rape cases. The PDP leadership will meet on Saturday in Srinagar to discuss the situation following the brutal gangrape and killing of the eight-year-old girl in Kathua, a party spokesman said. According to PDP sources quoted by PTI, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who will chair the meeting, is likely to tell the BJP, a coalition partner in the ruling coalition in the state, to ask its ministers – Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga – to resign. The two ministers had attended a meeting in the girl’s village in support of the accused in the case and demanded a CBI probe in the matter last month. Jammu and Kashmir Police chief SP Vaid said that all necessary steps will be taken to provide protection to the family members of the eight-year-old girl, and the witnesses in the case. “We will do whatever is required and take care of it. Nothing to worry about,” Vaid said when asked about alleged threats to the witnesses, including the family members of the victim. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Kathua is not just a case of rape but, it is a crime against humanity. Union minister Rajnath Singh said that the family of the Kathua rape victim should get justice. He told reporters that he is in favour of ensuring proper justice to the family of the 8-year-old girl. The Supreme Court issued notices to Bar Council of India, Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association, Jammu High Court Bar Association and Kathua Bar Association on a plea against lawyers allegedly blocking filing of chargesheet in Kathua Case. Former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the rape and murder of a minor in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district. Confirming her earlier statement on amending the POCSO Act, Maneka Gandhi slammed media by saying that important decisions aren’t taken in two minutes. Alleging that the Congress is playing “dirty” politics in the country and playing with the future of children and women, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said that a fair investigation was conducted in the Kathua murder and rape case. “SIT was formed and six-seven people were arrested. Also, I would like to say it on record that the Jammu Bar Association president BS Slathia was the polling agent of Ghulam Nabi Azad ji,” Lekhi said. “Apart from Kathua and Unnao cases, there was another case in Assam’s Naigon where a Class XII student was raped first and then burnt to death. Why no candle march for her,” Lekhi asked mediapersons. Lekhi was speaking on behalf of the ruling government and alleged that Congress is playing dirty political games involving women and children. The BJP spokesperson also alleged misreporting by the media. The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices to several media houses who disclosed identity of Kathua victim, asking them why action should not be taken against the organisations. The high court took up the issue on its own after coming across print and electronic media reports revealing victim’s name. The law of the land states that the identity of a rape victim cannot be disclosed and those guilty of doing so face be punished under Section 228-A of the Indian Penal Code. However, Jammu and Kashmir is ruled by State Ranbir Penal Code or RPC. Indian Penal Code is not applicable in the Valley under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. A group of lawyers in the Supreme Court have requested Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra to take suo moto cognisance of the conduct of lawyers in Kathua and a PIL in this regard is likely to be filed today. Even as the chorus for justice in Kathua rape case grows louder, the minor victim’s family is under threat. The sister of the eight-year-old girl, who was held captive, sedated and repeatedly raped before being killed, says her family received death threats recently. Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said she’ll work to amend the POCSO Act to make rape of children under 12 years punishable by death. The girl, who belonged to the nomadic Bakerwal Muslim community, had disappeared from a spot near her house on 10 January. A week later, her body was found in the same area. A Special Investigation Team, formed to probe the incident, has arrested eight people, including two Special Police Officers (SPOs) and a head constable, who was charged with destroying evidence. [caption id=“attachment_4430051” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Image courtesy: News18[/caption] Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday promised that there will be no obstruction of justice while the Congress targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his “silence” over the issue. “The law will not be obstructed by the irresponsible actions and statements of a group of people. Proper procedures are being followed, investigations are on fast track and justice will be delivered,” the Chief Minister said. Her tweet follows protest by the Jammu Bar Association against the handling of the case by the Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch and demand for a CBI probe into it. Eight people, including alleged mastermind Sanji Ram, have been charged with abduction, rape and murder of the ‘Bakerwal’ (nomadic) girl in Kathua’s Rasana village in January. Congress President Rahul Gandhi asked “how could anyone protect the culprits” and deplored letting politics interfere in such “unimaginable brutality”. “How can anyone protect the culprits of such evil? What happened to ***** at Kathua is a crime against humanity. It cannot go unpunished,” he tweeted. “What have we become if we allow politics to interfere with such unimaginable brutality perpetrated on an innocent child,” he asked. Congress leader Kapil Sibal attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his silence over the issue and said he should speak up over violence against women in states where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power. “Prime Minister is silent over the incidents of rape in Unnao (in Uttar Pradesh) and Kathua,” Sibal told the media. Slamming Modi over his day-long fast against the washout of the second part of Parliament’s budget session due to disruptions, which the BJP blames on the Congress, Sibal said: “Why don’t you fast against incidents of rape? And tell the people that you are feeling bad about the incidents of rape and so you are fasting.” Meanwhile, the Jammu Bar Association reiterated its demand for a CBI probe into the case. It said that while it did not support the accused, it wanted a fair probe. BS Slathia, President of the Bar Association, said attempts were being made to project the lawyers as supporters of the accused against whom the Crime Branch has produced a damning chargesheet in the court. “Lawyers of Jammu are being maligned in order to divide the state on communal lines. All we have been saying is that the investigation of the case be transferred to the CBI. Does anyone say that the CBI is communal?” Slathia asked. He said the Crime Branch that has been investigating the case had brought an officer from the Kashmir Valley to carry out the probe while the organisation had enough staff in the Jammu region. “The officer in question has faced murder and rape allegations in the past. We have said the association of this officer with the investigation process has put a question mark on the probe. “Justice should not only be done but must also be seen as being done. It is unfortunate that communal motives are being attributed to our demand. The media should report events in an honest manner,” Slathia said. Track LIVE Updates in UNNAO RAPE CASE here
Kathua rape and murder case updates: Two BJP MLAs, who defended accused, resign from state cabinet
As the issue of brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua assumed communal proportions, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday promised that there will be no obstruction of justice while the Congress targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his “silence” over the issue.
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Jammu lawyers suspend agitation, resume work
The Jammu High Court Bar Association (JHCBA) on Monday resumed work after staying away from courts for 12 days in support of their various demands including handing over the Kathua rape and murder case to CBI and deportation of illegally settled Rohingyas. The decision to resume work was taken at a general house meeting of the JHCBA held under the chairmanship of its president B S Slathia.
“The general house decided to temporarily suspend the agitation, responding to the appeal of Bar Council of India (BCI), and the Supreme Court taking cognizance of the issue (Kathua rape and murder case),” Slathia said. – PTI ( Read more here )
Advocate ND Pachauli asks ‘how can lawyers in Jammu and Kashmir not allow chargesheet to be filed?’
One of the protesting lawyers Advocate ND Pachauli asked how can lawyers in Jammu and Kashmir not allow chargesheet to be filed when such a heinous crime has been committed.
A section of lawyers are not allowing legal action to be taken smoothly
One of the protesting lawyers, Som Dutt, said that a section of lawyers in Jammu and Kashmir is not allowing legal course to be taken smoothly in the case and it is unfair.
Those disrupting rule of law using saffron flags should be punished: Lawyers
Lawyers protesting near the Supreme Court say that those who try to interfere with the rule of law after raising saffron flags, must be punished.
SC issued orders to authorities to protect us: Kathua case lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat
We will ensure justice is given: BJP MLA Ravinder Raina
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ravinder Raina said, “We will ensure that justice is given. We have full faith in the judicial system. It’s the most autonomous body and doesn’t work under anyone’s pressure.”- CNN-News 18
Shalu Nigam says lawyers who stood for the accused should be punished by the cancellation of licenses
Protesting lawyers take out silent march from Indian Law Institute to Bar Council of India in Delhi
The lawyers demand that the lawyers who stood for accused should be punished by cancellation of licenses.
SC lawyer Indira Jaisingh says ‘state police has done a good job’
Supreme Court lawyer Indira Jaising told the apex court, said, “State police had done a good job and it not only arrested all the accused persons on evidence but also on a scientific basis.” Appearing for the victim’s father, she told the Supreme Court, “The atmosphere is not conducive to a fair trial. The atmosphere is highly polarised.”- ANI
Lawyers protest outside Supreme Court over the conduct of lawyers in Jammu
SC notice to Jammu and Kashmir govt, orders security for Kathua victim’s family, lawyer
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Jammu and Kashmir state government seeing a reply on the Kathua rape and murder case plea that was file by the victim’s father. The apex court has also ordered security to victim’s family and lawyer. The next hearing on the plea to transfer case will be on 27 April. ( Read more here. )
As Kerala shuts down to protest incident, normal life gets derailed; several protesters taken into custody
A shutdown called by a section of social media users against the rape and murder of a girl in Jammu and Kashmir derailed normal life in parts of Kerala. Police took several protesters into custody. The worst affected districts included Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Palakkad and parts of Thiruvananthapuram. What began as a campaign in the social media on Sunday against the brutality heaped on an eight-year-old in Kathua region led to a shutdown on Monday. Angry demonstrators, some shouting anti-RSS slogans, blocked traffic and forced shops to shut. – Read more here
Chargesheet to be provided to accused on Tuesday
According to NDTV, chargesheet will be provided to the accused on Tuesday while the plea to move the case out of Jammu and Kashmir will be heard on Monday.
Chargesheet says abduction, rape carefully planned to remove nomadic community from area
The victim from a minority nomadic community was allegedly held in captivity in a small village temple in Kathua district for a week in January this year during which she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death.
According to the chargesheets filed by the Crime Branch, the abduction, rape and killing of the girl was part of a carefully planned strategy to remove the nomadic community from the area. A separate chargesheet was filed for the juvenile. The counsel for the accused demanded a copy of the chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch on April 9 before the chief judicial magistrate.- PTI
Supreme Court to hear plea to move case out of Jammu and Kashmir at 2 pm
The victim’s father has approached the Supreme Court seeking safety, security and transfer of the case outside Jammu and Kashmir to a Chandigarh court. The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter at 2 pm. Victim’s father believes there cannot be a fair trial in Kathua.
RECAP: Eight accused in Kathua rape case produced before court today, next hearing on 28 April
The eight people accused of raping and killing an eight-year-old girl in Kathua on Monday pleaded not guilty and asked the district and sessions judge for a narco test.
As the trial in the case, which has become the focal point of outrage across the country, began in Kathua, District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Gupta asked the state Crime Branch to give copies of the chargesheet to the accused and fixed 28 April as the next date of hearing.
Jammu Bar not favouring rapists, say women lawyers, claim victim’s family had flagged unfair inquiry
After lawyer Deepika Singh Rajwat — who is fighting the case of an eight-year-old girl from Kathua who was raped and murdered — accused the Jammu High Court Bar Association president of threatening her, the Jammu Bar on Sunday sent a team of women lawyers to defend its president Bopinder Singh Salathia. The Bar had come under criticism for calling a strike against the Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and demanding a CBI probe into the incident.
“We are not favouring rapists, we demand justice for the victims. The dispensation of justice should not become a political football,” said Kaur, adding, “There was a writ petition filed by the victim’s family that said that the police had not launched a proper inquiry into the case.”
‘Being called anti-Hindu,’ claims lawyer Deepika Rajawat
Lawyer Deepika Rajawat, who is representing the victim’s family in the Kathua rape and murder case, said that she was being called “anti-Hindu” and facing social boycott for taking up the case, as per The Indian Express .“Today, I don’t know, I am not in my senses. I can be raped, I can be killed and may be they won’t allow me to practice in court. They (have) isolated me, I don’t know how I can survive,” the report quoted Rajawat as saying.
Victim’s relatives accuse media of ignoring Kathua rape for three months
Relatives of the victim present outside the Kathua court on Monday accused the media of ignoring extensive reportage of this heinous crime for nearly three months. – IANS
PIL asks for case transfer, additional security
According to the copy of the PIL with Bar and Bench , the appellants have requested for the following:
- Issue appropriate write, order or direction to transfer case to a court of “competent jurisdiction” at Chandigarh.
- Adequate security in plain clothes police to victim’s family, lawyer Deepika Rajawat and Talib Hussain.
- Direct concerned authorities to strengthen security at home where accused juvenile is lodged, not let unauthorised persons meet him.
- Order a court-monitored probe.
- Issue a stay on proceedings before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua
Indira Jaising to represent lawyer Deepika Rajawat as well seeking security for family
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud considered the submission advanced by senior advocate Indira Jaising, representing Deepika Rajawat and Anuja Kapur, for urgent hearing of the two petitions on Monday itself.
A plea filed by Delhi-based lawyer Anuja Kapur, seeks transfer of the sensational gangrape case from Kathua trial court to a local court in the National Capital.
Visuals of protests against Kathua, Unnao cases across the country
Senior lawyer Indira Jaising to appear on behalf of Kathua victim’s father in SC
The Supreme Court will hear the victim’s father’s plea to move the Kathua rape case to Chandigarh from Jammu. Senior Counsel Indira Jaising will appear on behalf of the victim’s family, reported Live Law.
Nirbhaya’s mother says slow pace of judicial system aiding rapists
Speaking to ANI , the 2012 Delhi gangrape victim Nirbhaya’s mother Asha Devi said that crimes like the Kathua and Unnao rape cases were taking place because the slow of the judicial system was not instilling fear in the culprits’ minds.
Accused juvenile moves bail application, matter to be heard today
The juvenile accused arrested in the Kathua rape and murder case has moved a bail application before the judicial magistrate. The matter will be heard later on Monday.
All eight accused plead ’not guilty’, demand narco test
All eight accused in Kathua rape and murder case have pleaded ’not guilty’, and asked the district and sessions judge for a narco test.
Medical checkup of DCW chief Swati Maliwal underway
Demanding the death penalty for rapists, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal continued her indefinite hunger strike on Monday despite warnings from doctors.
WATCH: Accused Sanji Ram’s daughter alleges conspiracy, demands CBI probe
Speaking to reporters, the key accused Sanji Ram’s daughter alleged there was a conspiracy and demanded a CBI probe into the case.
Lawyer asks for full copy of chargesheet
“After the case was called and all accused appeared, I filed my Wakalatnama. I asked for a copy of chargesheet. There is 490-page copy and I did not receive any copy. Is this a hallmark of a fair trial?” asked one of the accused’s lawyers.
Accused Sanji Ram said narco test will clear out everything
According to the main accused in the Kathua rape case, Sanji Ram said that everything will be clear after Narco test.
Victim’s father asks Supreme Court to transfer case out of Jammu and Kashmir
Eight-year-old victim’s father approached the Supreme Court seeking safety, security and transfer of the case outside Jammu and Kashmir. The family will ask the apex court to let the case be heard in Chandigarh instead. The Supreme Court wil hear the matter at 2 pm, reports said.
Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch to hand over notices issued to Jammu, Kathua Bar Council
The crime branch will be handing over the notices issued to the Jammu Bar Council as well as Kathua Bar Council for appearing before the Supreme Court on 19 April.
WATCH: Spot where eight-year-old girl was raped and killed in Kathua
‘Full chargesheet copy not provided to us,’ claims accused constable’s lawyer
Speaking to ANI, the counsel for accused constable Tilak Raj, in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, said that he has not been provided with the copy of the full chargesheet. “Full chargesheet copy has not been provided to us. We are depending on information from social media. We are handicapped,” counsel Aseem Sahni said.
Death penalty won’t solve problem, attitude towards women needs to change
The facts show that to prevent sexual crimes, we have to make large changes in our society and its treatment of women at the level of the family, writes Aakar Patel in this Firstpost article . And we need to ensure that the existing laws on reporting sexual violence are followed at the level of every police station across India. This is very, very hard work but it will ensure that the rate of reporting goes up, at least to the levels where it is in the rest of the world. After the rate of reporting goes up, the state needs to ensure that it conducts proper investigations (which need resources and cannot be done with the same force or budget) that increases the rate of convictions.
Indian students groups in Britain seek swift action in Kathua, Unnao rapes
As many as 19 Indian student and alumni groups in various British universities have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Kathua and Unnao rape cases, seeking tough measures against the culprits before he addresses his “Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath” event in London on 18 April.
“We, the Indian student and alumni community in the UK, are deeply horrified and demand immediate proceedings against the accused in both cases (Kathua and Unnao). By taking swift and strict action, please show that the Indian government’s initial silence and delayed response to these horrific crimes against humanity are not a support of the accused because the accused have some or the other link with those in power.”
“Prime Minister, you have not shied away from taking difficult decisions in the past, such as with demonetisation. Please take similar extraordinary steps to prove that India’s daughters matter,” the groups said in the letter. – IANS
Delhi lawyers to hold protest march at 3 pm today
Lawyers in New Delhi will be holding a march in protest at 3 pm on Monday against the “conduct” of lawyers of the Bar Association Jammu, who earlier had come out in support of those accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua.
The lawyers will march to the Bar Council of India and present a memorandum demanding action against the Jammu lawyers.
WATCH: Kathua rape and murder case trial to begin today