Jammu & Kashmir

Kathua rape and murder: All sections of society come on one platform to demand #JusticeForAsifa

Srinagar: Several protests were held in Kashmir against the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua. On January 17, the body of a minor, a Gujjar girl was found in the forests near Rasana, Hiranagar. She had been missing for a week and had been drugged so that she could not cry for help.

Kashmiri Pandit leader and academician, Professor Vaishnavi, while seeking punishment to culprits, in a protest organised by Joint Resistance Leadership said, “JK was politically disturbed, but not mentally disturbed. Every one should listen to their conscience and seek harsh punishment to the culprits. Either the government has no will to punish culprits or is morally weak,” he said.

Christian priest Father Veenu appealed to the government to give harsh punishment to the culprits. “We condemn this incident and everyone should seek strict punishment,” he said.

ALSO READ: Voices seeking #JusticeForAsifa amplify in JK, ‘hang the rapist’ demand Medicos in Srinagar

Davendar Singh from the traders community, condemned the incident. Civil society leaders, and people from other walks of life also participated in the rally, organised by JRL.

Meanwhile, a civil society group also held a protest at Srinagar’s Pratap Park against the incident. Professor Hameeda Nayeem claimed that Muslims were being “harassed” in Jammu. “The culprits should be given strict punishment instead of shielding them,” she said.

A civil society member, Shakeel Qalandar, said that they stand with the family of the girl. “We stand with Gujjars and Bakerwals. We demand that justice should be given to the family like in the Nirbhaya or in Zainab case,” Qalandar said.

Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were kept under house arrest.

However, the protest rally was led by Mohammad Yasin Malik, which was foiled before marching towards Lal Chowk. Malik was arrested along with several protesters, including Chairperson, Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) Parveena Ahanger, who was taken away in a police vehicle as soon as she joined the protest.

ALSO READ: #JusticeForAsifa People in JK demand justice for 8-yr-old allegedly raped and murdered in Kathua

In his telephonic address to the congregation, Geelani appealed to the people from all sections of society and particularly human rightist groups in Jammu, and asked them to come in support of victim’s family so that perpetrators are punished for their heinous crime.

Mirwaiz, who also addressed the protesters on phone, said that BJP was “shielding” the culprits involved in the heinous crime. “BJP leaders held the rally in support of the culprits and are harassing Gujjars. Gujjars are also being boycotted,” Mirwaiz claimed.

Malik, the JKLF Chairman, said that it had never happened when a rally was held in favour of the rapist, except for the rally in Jammu to protect the rapist of the girl. “The fascist government in New Delhi is harassing Muslims in the name of Love Jihad, and beef. Now a rally is being allowed by Mehbooba Mufti’s government and supporting the rapist and killers,” he said.

ALSO READ: JNU students from JK beaten up for demanding #JusticeForAsifa in New Delhi

So far, three persons including two policemen have been arrested. On February 14, the Hindu Ekta Manch led by the BJP leader held a protest march in favour of the accused persons in the rape and murder case.

The investigation into the rape and murder of eight-year-old minor of Hira Nagar Kathua has so far revealed that the accused had drugged her so that she would not cry for help, said an official privy to the probe. The investigation is being conducted by the Crime Branch of J&K police.

“The accused initially administered her with a locally available intoxicant. Later they gave her diazepam regularly so that she wouldn’t scream for help and catch attention of the passersby,” Srinagar based Greater Kashmir quoted the officer as saying.

The accused had held the girl captive for seven days before murdering her in a brutal manner. The official said the CB has identified the drug store where the accused had purchased drugs. The revelations come at a time when questions are being raised over the investigation the police had carried out before handing the case over to the CB.

ALSO READ: Flag rally with police support in favour of ‘rapist, murderer’ is shameful, says Joint Resistance 

A rally was held in Jammu in support of the rape and murder accused where protesters displayed the Indian flag, and were reportedly provided police protection.

The Joint resistance leadership (JRL) comprising of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik on Saturday had said that a rally that was organized in Jammu against the arrest of a ‘rapist and murderer’ is a glaring example of how ruling regime has crossed every limit of low with regards to humanity and ethics.

Terming the rally by Hindu Ekta Morcha in support of a ‘thug, rapist and murderer’, as a slap on the face of whole humanity, JRL said that this rally was led by a BJP assembly member which is actually a glaring proof of the fascist mindset of ruling class in India and Jammu Kashmir.

ALSO READ: Kathua rape and murder: Raising triclour in rally in support of the accused amounts to desecration: Mehbooba

Recently, in a press conference, Chairman All Tribal Coordination Committee, Talib Hussain claimed that the real culprits in the rape and murder of minor Kathua girl were being shielded in a planned manner under the “guise of 15-year-old’s age”.

Hussain, who was detained during protests against the murder earlier this week, said that the persons involved in this “heinous crime” are not being punished because of “political influence”.

ALSO READ: Kathua rape and murder case: ‘Goons’ have cut off water supply of Rasana Muslims, alleges NC lawmaker

Addressing a presser after his release in Jammu, he said that circumstantial evidence on the basis of doctors’ version and people who gave her ceremonial bath suggest that girl was “brutally raped”.

“Her two ribs and a leg were broken. She was given electric shocks. She was clubbed by stones,” said Hussain.

 

 

Click to comment
To Top