At last, the brutal rape and murder of 8 year old nomad child has drawn so much attention from the conscientious citizens all over the world. The endless candle light marches, protests and condemnation continued in the state and across the country from all sections of society against this heinous crime. From students, sports personalities, film actors to UN general secretary all in one voice condemned this brutal act. After all the voice of people is the voice of God. The charge sheet presented by the Crime Branch of J&K police, discloses the dreadful story of how the girl was kidnapped, drugged, gang-raped and ultimately murdered gruesomely. For about two months, the incident did not attract the attention of the people. It was due to intervention of media, both print and electronic and social media, that this horrific incident of rape and murder got attention from the people particularly the civil society. This act of brutality by the accused persons was not sudden but pre-planned to fulfill their ulterior motive to force the nomad community to move out from Kathua, to achieve their agenda. The Hindu Ekta Manch who spearheaded the protest march in support of the accused persons in Khatua was further encouraged by the participation of two former BJP cabinet ministers. The MP/Union MOS in PMO extended all moral support to the agitators through his two MLA’s of his constituency and also demanded the transfer of case to CBI to cover up the truth.
The worst was that a group of conscienceless lawyers even tried to prevent the Crime Branch of JK police to file a charge sheet against the accused in CJM Court on April 10th Reportedly the charge sheet was presented before CJM at his home after 6 hours. By doing so they had caused obstructions in the justice delivery system. But one fails to understand as to why the local police became mute spectator and did not deal with the situation to ensure the presentation of charge sheet in the court well in time. The lawyers of Jammu bar association held Bandh on April 11th, demanding transfer of case to the CBI. The killing triggered protests with complete shut down on Friday in Kashmir. Even the rest of the country was out raging against the gruesome rape and murder of 8 year child. Threatening the community to which the girl belonged with dire consequences reflects total moral bankruptcy of these political parties, supporting Hindu Ekta Manch. The unethical and unwarranted behavior of Lawyers of Kathua and Jammu bar associations and their support for accused further exposed the communal and anti humanity mind of these so called protectors of law.
The rate of crime against the women in India has been enormously rising for the last few years. on rise. The reoccurrences of rape and murder, have made the situation so alarming that the parents fear for the safety of their children. The Kathua incident has largely tarnished the image of the country on the national as well as the international front. The coverage of this gruesome incident in some international print media also made the Secretary General of UNO to speak against this horrendous crime and express his condemnation. He also demanded for fair and speedy justice to victim. The peaceful protests and anger of the citizens across the state pushed the PDP to the wall. The political fallout of this barbarous act forced the two cabinet ministers of BJP, involved in the support of accused, to submit their resignations. But these two brazen faced law makers had no repentance for their support to the accused of their gory act. In case there is some conscience left among top leaders of the party, these two former ministers should also be sacked from the party and no other political party must admit them in their fold. They should be condemned for ever. For some time it looked as the incident had shaken the C.M so much that, had these ministers not resigned, there was every possibility that she would have withdrawn her support to coalition government. The support and instigation to agitators and active involvement of Union MOS in this regard, escaped the media attention and public anger. It is therefore also the moral duty of P.M to call the spade a spade and sack his deputy for polarization, so that it appears that justice has been done. Keeping the role of these two former ministers and M.O.S, in view, there is every apprehension that the unwanted elements in future may not raise the slogan of “Beti Baghau and Mulzim Bachau” instead of Beti Bachau. The people appreciate the efforts made by C.M for establishing fast track court, which is the need of the hour. The government has the records of how Shopian rape/ murder case of 2009 and infamous Sex scandal was unfairly dealt and concluded by the central investigating agency. The government should therefore keep in mind to entrust the trial of the case to a court having the jurisdiction with in the state. In this connection the statement of law minister is also a welcome step.
It is also heartening that the Apex court has issued notices to Bar Association of Kathua and Jammu.
Even the men of police station Hiranagar had been bribed to hush-up the case and have washed away the young victim’s clothes to destroy the material evidence. The government has so far done a good job by transferring the case to crime branch and needs to shift and attach, the district SP, Dy SP and concerned SHO, to face the enquiry, for their dubious role, inaction and failure to handle this gruesome rape and murder case effectively from the beginning of receiving the missing report. With the improvement of law and order situation in Jammu province, the role of SPOs have almost come to an end. since there have been numerous instances when the SPOS were involved in rape and murder cases so there is also need to reduce the strength of this force to minimum. Their services being temporary in nature, they are not therefore accountable to the department.
The peaceful protests and condemnation across the country has lead to the victory of humanity over evil. It has proved beyond doubt that nothing is achieved by the acts of violence except by the peaceful means and ways. We all in one voice want justice for the victim.
Abdul Rashid Khan (IPS) is the former IGP