Crime is crime and should not be dealt on communal lines. The recent horrendous rape and murder of a minor girl of Rasana Kathua has shaken the conscience of all but few shameless people with communal mind and Hindu Ekta Manch (HEM) in support of accused are still adamant, demanding for handing over of the case to CBI when the charge sheet against the accused stands already filed in the court of CJM. The Shiv Sena and so called secular Panthers party also took out processions at Jammu and Udhampur for meeting the similar demand as raised by HEM. The incident attracted media attention only when HEM lead by two former cabinet ministers of coalition government protested at Kathua against the transfer of investigation to Crime branch Jammu and the movement of the HEM gained impetus when the SIT succeeded professionally in solving the crime by collecting the circumstantial, scientific and material evidences and started arresting the culprits.
Even the president of J&K PCC had earlier also expressed his desire to support the demand raised by HEM but for politics and not for his conscience, he later on changed his stance. The parents of the victim are fully satisfied with the investigation of crime branch as per the media reports and wanted justice for the victim on fast track basis. It is for the first time that an organization has openly come in support of the accused that too in rape and murder of 8 year old girl. The role of BCI has further dismayed the people of J&K in general and people of valley in particular. They had ignored the unwanted action of some of the members of Kathua bar association who had created hurdles to the investigating team of crime branch in producing the Challan before Honorable court at Kathua on the other day. Though a proper case stands already registered against the obstructionist lawyers by the SIT of crime branch, the BCI did not take this important fact into consideration. The Jammu Bar Association also made an issue by raising the similar demand, though later on the president of BAJ changed the stance by asking for Rongyias to quit Jammu.
The BCI concluded their visit in the same manner as PCI had earlier done in the Kunan Poshpora mass rape case. The BCI has also endorsed the demand of BA of Kathua and Jammu asking for transferring the case to CBI and thereby shown their biased mind. The CBI has very dismal record of conviction rate particularly in J&K. The question arises why they demand for CBI investigation when the team of state crime branch, with their great efforts and honesty has successfully concluded the investigation of the case, infers that they want to cover up the case in support of the accused persons and achieve their only political motive to strengthen their vote bank.
Some of the leaders of mainstream political parties tried to politicize this heinous crime of minor girl, scoring numbers over each other. How shameful was it that, two politician brothers with important positions in their respective political parties failed to join together to condemn this gruesome rape and murder and demand justice for this little angel but played politics over this heart broken incident in different tones and voices at different locations. They should have risen above narrow political mind set and should have supported the demand for justice and death sentence for the culprits responsible for this ghastly act. The case is of a special nature as this was not only the act of any pervert mind but the result of deep rooted and premeditated conspiracy of few to threaten and force the members of nomad community to vacate the area to achieve their communal and political end. Every person with conscience is feeling dismayed and disturbed as no day passes without hearing the horrifying news of rapes and violence against women in the country. There are number of cases which also go unreported. With the sharp rise in graph of such crime, female gender are worried and feeling sense of insecurity. They pray for their protection against these human turned beasts. The India is now known as rape country of the world and even women of Indian origin settled in different countries of the world, hesitate visiting their home places due to fear of growing incidents of rape and gang rape of women with no age bar.
The CM who was appreciated for dropping two BJP cabinet ministers for taking part in the protest procession in favor of accused in Kathua rape and murder of 8 year old girl, has again disappointed the public by inducting a BJP M.L.A from Kathua district as her cabinet minister. The said MLA is stated to have also taken part in HEM protest and extended his support to accused. In case she has acted under pressure of BJP, the coalition partner, it would have been better, had she given them her mind by withdrawing her support for the dignity of the women. And such action would have definitely elated her image as a leader of the women in the country. The statement made by the Dy. C.M on the first day of his taking over, has exposed his mind set and downgraded the status of the chair. Even a seasoned politician from J&K, like leader of the opposition in upper house of parliament who had contested his elections from this constituency, did not even bother to utter a single word of condemnation on this sad incident.
The country under the present dispensation is at the crossroads. The divisive and communal forces who are gaining strength day by day are at large, damaging the very foundation of a historical and democratic institutions of the country, causing irreparable loss to the unity and secular image of India. Unless the noose of such force is tightened, there will be complete anarchy and lawlessness in the country. Since the case is sub-judice and some applications are also pending before the Apex Court, the sacked minister, HEM and the forces behind them in Delhi, should wait and watch with patience and not to further play with the emotions of the women in general and hurt the sentiments of poor parents of the victim in particular.
Abdul Rashid Khan (IPS) is former IGP.