A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel sustained minor injuries in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-violates-ceasefire-in-jammu-kashmirs-poonch-indian-army-retaliating-252949">ceasefire violation</a> by Pakistan at Manyari post of Hiranagar in Kathua district, last night.

Constable Abhishek Roy, who received splinter injuries, is undergoing treatment at JMC hospital.

His condition is reported to be normal.

The Pakistani rangers violated ceasefire by firing 54 HE bombs, and 33 RDS&nbsp;with small weapons.

The BSF troops strongly retaliated to the firing.

A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel sustained minor injuries in ceasefire violation by Pakistan at Manyari post of Hiranagar in Kathua district, last night. Constable Abhishek Roy, who received splinter injuries, is undergoing treatment at JMC hospital.

A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel sustained minor injuries in ceasefire violation by Pakistan at Manyari post of Hiranagar in Kathua district, last night. Constable Abhishek Roy, who received splinter injuries, is undergoing treatment at JMC hospital. His condition is reported to be normal. The Pakistani rangers violated ceasefire by firing 54 HE bombs, and 33 RDS with small weapons. The BSF troops strongly retaliated to the firing.

Border Security Force jawan sustains injuries in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua

A special court in Punjab's Pathankot on Monday convicted six of the seven accused in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/court-convicts-six-accused-in-kathua-rape-and-murder-case-1-acquitted-225877">Kathua rape case</a>. The eighth accused is a juvenile and his case will be separately handled by the Juvenile Justice Board or JJB.

The case involves an eight-year-old girl, who was kidnapped, raped and killed by these men in January last year.

According to the police chargesheet, the girl, who belonged to the nomadic community, had gone missing on January 10, 2018, while grazing horses. Investigators said the accused juvenile had abducted the girl under the pretext of helping her find her horses and raped her on the same day. The investigators further said that before being killed, the girl was kept sedated in a temple where Sanjhi Ram, the main accused, was the custodian.

Sanjhi Ram claims he found out about the sexual assault only on January 13 when the nephew confessed to him, according to the investigators. He told them that he had performed prayers at the 'devisthan', and asked his nephew to take prasad home. But the nephew delayed doing so, and in anger Ram beat him up, investigators said.

The juvenile thought his uncle had found out that he had raped the girl, and spilled the beans, they said. They claim the juvenile also implicated his cousin and Ram's son, Vishal, saying they both had raped the girl inside the 'devisthan'. Vishal was today acquitted by the court.

On the intervening night of January 13 and 14, the juvenile, Vishal and a friend, Parvesh Kumar alias Mannu, took the victim out of the 'devisthan'. They were later joined by a special police officer Deepak Khajuria who wanted to rape her once more before she was killed, they said.

But things did not go quite as planned, they said.

She was murdered on January 14 as Ram did not want to leave any evidence that led to his son, investigators found.

The body of the child was to be transported and disposed of in the Hiranagar canal nearby. However, a vehicle could not be arranged in time. The other accused then lifted the body and took it back to the 'devisthan' while Ram kept watch outside, the chargesheet said.

Further investigations showed that Ram told his nephew and his son the next day that his friend had refused to bring a car so the two had to throw it in the forest nearby. Her body was found there on January 17.

Preparations for the abduction had started on January 7 when sedatives and 'manar' (local cannabis or bhang) were purchased, the chargesheet said.

A special court in Punjab's Pathankot on Monday convicted six of the seven accused in the Kathua rape case. The eighth accused is a juvenile and his case will be separately handled by the Juvenile Justice Board or JJB.

A special court in Punjab's Pathankot on Monday convicted six of the seven accused in the Kathua rape case. The eighth accused is a juvenile and his case will be separately handled by the Juvenile Justice Board or JJB. The case involves an eight-year-old girl, who was kidnapped, raped and killed by these men in January last year. According to the police chargesheet, the girl, who belonged to the nomadic community, had gone missing on January 10, 2018, while grazing horses. Investigators said the accused juvenile had abducted the girl under the pretext of helping her find her horses and raped her on the same day. The investigators further said that before being killed, the girl was kept sedated in a temple where Sanjhi Ram, the main accused, was the custodian. Sanjhi Ram claims he found out about the sexual assault only on January 13 when the nephew confessed to him, according to the investigators. He told them that he had performed prayers at the 'devisthan', and asked his nephew to take prasad home. But the nephew delayed doing so, and in anger Ram beat him up, investigators said. The juvenile thought his uncle had found out that he had raped the girl, and spilled the beans, they said. They claim the juvenile also implicated his cousin and Ram's son, Vishal, saying they both had raped the girl inside the 'devisthan'. Vishal was today acquitted by the court. On the intervening night of January 13 and 14, the juvenile, Vishal and a friend, Parvesh Kumar alias Mannu, took the victim out of the 'devisthan'. They were later joined by a special police officer Deepak Khajuria who wanted to rape her once more before she was killed, they said. But things did not go quite as planned, they said. She was murdered on January 14 as Ram did not want to leave any evidence that led to his son, investigators found. The body of the child was to be transported and disposed of in the Hiranagar canal nearby. However, a vehicle could not be arranged in time. The other accused then lifted the body and took it back to the 'devisthan' while Ram kept watch outside, the chargesheet said. Further investigations showed that Ram told his nephew and his son the next day that his friend had refused to bring a car so the two had to throw it in the forest nearby. Her body was found there on January 17. Preparations for the abduction had started on January 7 when sedatives and 'manar' (local cannabis or bhang) were purchased, the chargesheet said.

What we know about the Kathua rape case

Accusations of muted protests in Aligarh case.Comparisons being made with Kathua rape case. 8 yr old girl was raped and murdered in Kathua, Jammu. Watch this video to know more.

Aligarh Murder Case Raises Questions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday slammed the Abdullahs and Muftis, saying two families "ruined" three generations of Jammu and Kashmir and he will not allow them to "divide" India.

The prime minister was referring to NC leader Omar Abdullah's demand for a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir.

He also targeted the Congress for the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley and said his government was committed to settling the displaced community in their native places and that work has started in this direction.

The Prime Minister also hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for skipping Saturday's event to pay respects to martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

On doubts raised by some opposition leaders on the Balakot air strikes, Modi said Congress has never trusted valour of Indian armed forces.

He said the wave in favour of the BJP was stronger this time than in 2014.

According to opinion polls and surveys, the BJP will get thrice the seats that Congress will win, he said.

By coming out to vote in large numbers in Baramulla and Jammu, voters have given a befitting reply to terrorist leaders and opportunists, he added.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday slammed the Abdullahs and Muftis, saying two families "ruined" three generations of Jammu and Kashmir and he will not allow them to "divide" India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday slammed the Abdullahs and Muftis, saying two families "ruined" three generations of Jammu and Kashmir and he will not allow them to "divide" India. The prime minister was referring to NC leader Omar Abdullah's demand for a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir. He also targeted the Congress for the migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley and said his government was committed to settling the displaced community in their native places and that work has started in this direction. The Prime Minister also hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for skipping Saturday's event to pay respects to martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. On doubts raised by some opposition leaders on the Balakot air strikes, Modi said Congress has never trusted valour of Indian armed forces. He said the wave in favour of the BJP was stronger this time than in 2014. According to opinion polls and surveys, the BJP will get thrice the seats that Congress will win, he said. By coming out to vote in large numbers in Baramulla and Jammu, voters have given a befitting reply to terrorist leaders and opportunists, he added.

Will not allow Abdullahs, Muftis to divide India: PM Modi in Kathua

The Supreme Court will hear the plea of three witnesses in the Kathua gangrape and murder case, alleging that they are being harassed by the state police, on May 16. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud today agreed to hear on Wednesday the plea of Sahil Sharma and two others, who are college friends of the juvenile accused in the case.

According to their plea, they had already recorded their statements before the police and the magistrate. The three witnesses had in their statement before the magistrate said they gave their statement to the police under coercion. The petition today alleged that the state police was now asking them to re-appear and re-record their statements and exerting pressure in their families.

The apex court had on May 7 transferred the trial in the sensational Kathua gangrape and murder case of an eight-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir to Pathankot in Punjab, but refrained from handing over the probe to CBI saying there was no need as the investigation has been conducted and the chargesheet filed.

The victim, from a minority nomadic community, had disappeared from near her home in a village close to Kathua in the Jammu region on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later. The state police has filed the main chargesheet against seven persons and a separate chargesheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district.

The petition alleged that the state police was now asking them to re-appear and re-record their statements and exerting pressure in their families.

The Supreme Court will hear the plea of three witnesses in the Kathua gangrape and murder case, alleging that they are being harassed by the state police, on May 16. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud today agreed to hear on Wednesday the plea of Sahil Sharma and two others, who are college friends of the juvenile accused in the case. According to their plea, they had already recorded their statements before the police and the magistrate. The three witnesses had in their statement before the magistrate said they gave their statement to the police under coercion. The petition today alleged that the state police was now asking them to re-appear and re-record their statements and exerting pressure in their families. The apex court had on May 7 transferred the trial in the sensational Kathua gangrape and murder case of an eight-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir to Pathankot in Punjab, but refrained from handing over the probe to CBI saying there was no need as the investigation has been conducted and the chargesheet filed. The victim, from a minority nomadic community, had disappeared from near her home in a village close to Kathua in the Jammu region on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later. The state police has filed the main chargesheet against seven persons and a separate chargesheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district.

SC to hear Kathua witnesses’ plea alleging police harassment on May 16

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dcw-chairperson-swati-maliwal-to-end-nine-day-hunger-strike-today-131978">DCW Chief Swati Maliwal </a>has requested the Prime Minister to set up a special task force and establish fast-track courts for hearing rape cases.

She urged the government to create a plan in the next 15 days adding that more police force should be employed in the next three months for handling rapes.

Expressing her dissapointment over the "communalisation of rapes" she also said that suddenly the religion of the victim has become important.

She also thanked the Prime Minister for amending the POCSO Act.&nbsp;

However, she added that the the new amendments awarding the death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age will not lead to any change on ground unless it is ensured that all rape cases are tried within six months.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, the DCW chief has requested him to set up special task force across the states consisting of highest representatives of Centre, states and judiciary.

She also called for an urgent meeting of the Union Home Minister, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Delhi, Police Commissioner and DCW to create a plan for increasing police resources and fast track courts in Delhi.

Raising concerns about the growing incidents of " irresponsible" statements by politicians and people, she said a strict action should be taken against them.

The DCW chairperson was on indefinite hunger strike for 10 days demanding death for rapists of minors. She ended her fast after the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance to allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age.

She urged the government to create a plan in the next 15 days adding that more police force should be employed in the next three months for handling rapes

DCW Chief Swati Maliwal has requested the Prime Minister to set up a special task force and establish fast-track courts for hearing rape cases. She urged the government to create a plan in the next 15 days adding that more police force should be employed in the next three months for handling rapes. Expressing her dissapointment over the "communalisation of rapes" she also said that suddenly the religion of the victim has become important. She also thanked the Prime Minister for amending the POCSO Act. However, she added that the the new amendments awarding the death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age will not lead to any change on ground unless it is ensured that all rape cases are tried within six months. In her letter to the Prime Minister, the DCW chief has requested him to set up special task force across the states consisting of highest representatives of Centre, states and judiciary. She also called for an urgent meeting of the Union Home Minister, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister of Delhi, Police Commissioner and DCW to create a plan for increasing police resources and fast track courts in Delhi. Raising concerns about the growing incidents of " irresponsible" statements by politicians and people, she said a strict action should be taken against them. The DCW chairperson was on indefinite hunger strike for 10 days demanding death for rapists of minors. She ended her fast after the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance to allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age.

Set up task forces to establish fast-track courts for rape cases: DCW Swati Maliwal writes to PM

After being sworn in as Jammu and Kashmir's Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta said on Monday that the Kathua gang rape and murder was a “small issue”.&nbsp;

The Kathua gang rape and murder had sent shockwaves through the nation.&nbsp;

An eight-year-old girl, belonging to a minority community, was allegedly abducted, gang-raped, and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district in January.&nbsp;

A video of Gupta's comment was posted&nbsp;by Congress leader Salman Nizami. In it, Gupta can be heard saying, “The Kathua incident is a minor one and shouldn’t be given much importance.”

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After pro-rapist MLA was inducted in Ministry, this shameless/heartless BJP neta- Dy CM J&K Kavinder Gupta says Rape & murder of 8 year old girl in Kathua is a SMALL issue, shd not be given much hype. And his supporters Laugh.....! Shame BJP Shame. <a href="https://t.co/6rkxSiBhhv">pic.twitter.com/6rkxSiBhhv</a>
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) <a href="https://twitter.com/SalmanNizami_/status/990923471680036864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Gupta, along with seven others, took oath as ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti-led cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir, in the presence of the governor on Monday.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-mla-who-reportedly-attended-pro-rapists-rally-in-kathua-made-cabinet-minister-133799">MLA who reportedly attended </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-mla-who-reportedly-attended-pro-rapists-rally-in-kathua-made-cabinet-minister-133799">pro-rapists</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-mla-who-reportedly-attended-pro-rapists-rally-in-kathua-made-cabinet-minister-133799"> rally in Kathua made cabinet minister</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-13-year-old-girl-stripped-molested-by-gang-of-teens-attack-filmed-no-one-comes-to-her-rescue-133772">13-year-old girl stripped, molested by </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-13-year-old-girl-stripped-molested-by-gang-of-teens-attack-filmed-no-one-comes-to-her-rescue-133772">gang</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-13-year-old-girl-stripped-molested-by-gang-of-teens-attack-filmed-no-one-comes-to-her-rescue-133772"> of teens in Bihar. Attack filmed, no one comes to her rescue</a>

Gupta, described as an old RSS hand, will be the new deputy chief minister in place of Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night, officials said.

The cabinet reshuffle was necessitated after two BJP ministers were forced to resign for attending a rally taken out in Kathua in support of the suspected rapists.&nbsp;

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who attended the swearing-in ceremony, however said today's changes had no connection with the Kathua case.&nbsp;

Besides Gupta and Sharma, the new BJP faces sworn in as ministers were the MLAs from Kathua and adjoining Sambha, Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder Kumar Manyal, respectively.

The BJP also upgraded Sunil Sharma, at present minister of state for transport, to the rank of cabinet minister. BJP legislator Shakti Raj took oath as a minister of state.

From the PDP, Pulwama MLA Mohammed Khalil Band and Sonawar MLA Mohammed Ashraf Mir took oath as ministers.

Of the eight, seven are first-time ministers. Seven of the eight are cabinet ministers.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

In a video posted by Congress leader Salman Nizami, Gupta said, “The Kathua incident is a minor one and shouldn’t be given much importance.”

After being sworn in as Jammu and Kashmir's Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta said on Monday that the Kathua gang rape and murder was a “small issue”. The Kathua gang rape and murder had sent shockwaves through the nation. An eight-year-old girl, belonging to a minority community, was allegedly abducted, gang-raped, and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district in January. A video of Gupta's comment was posted by Congress leader Salman Nizami. In it, Gupta can be heard saying, “The Kathua incident is a minor one and shouldn’t be given much importance.” After pro-rapist MLA was inducted in Ministry, this shameless/heartless BJP neta- Dy CM J&K Kavinder Gupta says Rape & murder of 8 year old girl in Kathua is a SMALL issue, shd not be given much hype. And his supporters Laugh.....! Shame BJP Shame. pic.twitter.com/6rkxSiBhhv — Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) April 30, 2018 × Gupta, along with seven others, took oath as ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti-led cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir, in the presence of the governor on Monday. Also read: MLA who reportedly attended pro-rapists rally in Kathua made cabinet minister Also read: 13-year-old girl stripped, molested by gang of teens in Bihar. Attack filmed, no one comes to her rescue Gupta, described as an old RSS hand, will be the new deputy chief minister in place of Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night, officials said. The cabinet reshuffle was necessitated after two BJP ministers were forced to resign for attending a rally taken out in Kathua in support of the suspected rapists. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who attended the swearing-in ceremony, however said today's changes had no connection with the Kathua case. Besides Gupta and Sharma, the new BJP faces sworn in as ministers were the MLAs from Kathua and adjoining Sambha, Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder Kumar Manyal, respectively. The BJP also upgraded Sunil Sharma, at present minister of state for transport, to the rank of cabinet minister. BJP legislator Shakti Raj took oath as a minister of state. From the PDP, Pulwama MLA Mohammed Khalil Band and Sonawar MLA Mohammed Ashraf Mir took oath as ministers. Of the eight, seven are first-time ministers. Seven of the eight are cabinet ministers. (With inputs from Agencies)

Watch: 'Kathua rape is a small issue', says newly sworn-in J&K Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta

An MLA who reportedly attended the rally taken out in Kathua in support of the suspected rapists of an eight-year-old girl has been sworn in as a Jammu and Kashmir cabinet minister.&nbsp;

The MLA in question is Rajiv Jasrotia, who represents Kathua in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly speaker Kavinder Gupta and seven others were on Monday sworn in as ministers in the state's PDP-BJP government led by Mehbooba Mufti .

The reshuffle is a result of BJP ministers Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga resigning from the cabinet earlier this month after they were criticised for taking part in the same rally Jasrotia is reported to have attended.&nbsp;

The move was attacked on Twitter by former chief minister Omar Abdullah.&nbsp;

"2 BJP ministers removed in J&K for attending a pro-rapist rally & a MLA who is reported to have attended the same rally is promoted as a minister. Why are the BJP/ @MehboobaMufti &nbsp;confused about where they stand on the #Kathua rape?" he tweeted.&nbsp;

Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also took to Twitter to slam the BJP.&nbsp;

"As per news reports BJP MLA who attended the pro-rapist rally in Kathua, Rajeev Jasrotia, is now a minister in the cabinet reshuffle. BJP protects rapists and promotes rape apologists. Shame," Chaturvedi tweeted.&nbsp;

Kavinder Gupta will take over as the state's deputy chief minister from Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night.&nbsp;

Gupta himself <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kathua-rape-a-small-issue-says-jks-new-deputy-cm-kavinder-gupta-133801">ran into trouble</a> on Monday when, after his swearing in, he referred to the Kathua gang rape — which sent shockwaves through the nation — as a "minor incident".&nbsp;

'2 BJP ministers removed in J&K for attending a pro-rapist rally & a MLA who is reported to have attended the same rally is promoted as a minister. Why are the BJP/ @MehboobaMufti confused about where they stand on the #Kathua rape?' Omar Abdullah tweeted

An MLA who reportedly attended the rally taken out in Kathua in support of the suspected rapists of an eight-year-old girl has been sworn in as a Jammu and Kashmir cabinet minister. The MLA in question is Rajiv Jasrotia, who represents Kathua in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. Jammu and Kashmir Assembly speaker Kavinder Gupta and seven others were on Monday sworn in as ministers in the state's PDP-BJP government led by Mehbooba Mufti . The reshuffle is a result of BJP ministers Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga resigning from the cabinet earlier this month after they were criticised for taking part in the same rally Jasrotia is reported to have attended. The move was attacked on Twitter by former chief minister Omar Abdullah. "2 BJP ministers removed in J&K for attending a pro-rapist rally & a MLA who is reported to have attended the same rally is promoted as a minister. Why are the BJP/ @MehboobaMufti confused about where they stand on the #Kathua rape?" he tweeted. Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also took to Twitter to slam the BJP. "As per news reports BJP MLA who attended the pro-rapist rally in Kathua, Rajeev Jasrotia, is now a minister in the cabinet reshuffle. BJP protects rapists and promotes rape apologists. Shame," Chaturvedi tweeted. Kavinder Gupta will take over as the state's deputy chief minister from Nirmal Singh, who submitted his resignation last night. Gupta himself ran into trouble on Monday when, after his swearing in, he referred to the Kathua gang rape — which sent shockwaves through the nation — as a "minor incident".

J&K: MLA who reportedly attended pro-rapists rally in Kathua made cabinet minister

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, investigating the gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, have said that prime accused Sanji Ram told them he decided to kill the girl to save his son.

News agency PTI quotes the police as saying that during interrogation, Sanji Ram said the girl was first raped on January 10, the day she was kidnapped, by Ram's nephew, <a href="www.wionews.com/india-news/juvenile-accused-in-kathua-case-appears-in-court-given-charge-sheet-132801">a juvenile</a>, and killed on January 14. Her body was found on January 17 in a forest.

The investigators also said that the girl as kept in a temple where Sanji Ram was the custodian. The aim of the kidnapping was to scare and drive away the nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal communities from the area, PTI quoted investigators.

Sanji Ram further told the investigators that he found out about the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-hits-the-street-to-protest-unnao-kathua-gang-rapes-130612">Kathua rape case</a> on January 13 when the nephew confessed to him. The boy took a long time in carrying out a task given to him by Sanji Ram which enraged him, and he beat him up. That is when the nephew confessed to Sanji Ram about the crime he had committed, the investigators said, and also named his son Vishal as partner in crime.

Sanji Ram then decided to kill the girl as he did not want to leave any evidence that led to his son, the investigators said.

According to the plan hatched by Sanji Ram and other accused, the girl was taken out of the temple on the intervening night of January 13 and 14. Police officer Deepak Khajuria who joined them, wanted to rape the girl once more before she was killed.

The eight-year-old was killed on January 14, but things didn't go as planned.

The body of the child was to be transported and disposed of in the Hiranagar canal nearby. However, a vehicle could not be arranged in time. The juvenile, Sanji Ram's son Vishal, Khajuria and another accused Mannu lifted the body and took it back to the temple while Ram kept watch outside, the investigators said.

Further investigation showed that Sanji Ram told his nephew and his son the next day that his friend had refused to bring a car so the two had to throw it in the jungle.

Preparations for the abduction had started on January 7 when sedatives and 'manar' (local cannabis or bhang) were purchased, the police chargesheet said.

The child was sedated with 'manar' and kept in the temple covered with a rug and a mattress weighing nearly 15 kg, investigators said.

However, Sanji Ram's lawyer Ankur Sharma refused to comment on the investigators' version, saying it would not be appropriate for him to discuss defence strategy. "At least the defence lawyer should not be commenting on the merits of the case. It is like leaking your strategy as a defence lawyer," he said.

The police chargesheets - a separate chargesheet was filed for the juvenile - named Ram, his nephew, his son Vishal, SPOs Khajuria and Surender Verma and Mannu.

While Ram has been charged with murder, kidnapping and destruction of evidence, Mannu has been charged with kidnapping. The other three have rape added to the list of charges.

The chargesheet also names head constable Tilak Raj and sub-inspector Anand Dutta - who allegedly took Rs 4 lakh from Sanji Ram and destroyed crucial evidence.

All of them have been charged under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for criminal conspiracy.

On January 23, the government handed over the case to the Crime Branch of the state police, which formed a Special Investigation Team and arrested the eight people. The accused pleaded not guilty on the opening day of the trial in the principal district and sessions court on April 16. The next hearing in the case is on April 28.

The child was sedated and kept in the temple covered with a rug and a mattress weighing nearly 15 kg, investigators said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, investigating the gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, have said that prime accused Sanji Ram told them he decided to kill the girl to save his son. News agency PTI quotes the police as saying that during interrogation, Sanji Ram said the girl was first raped on January 10, the day she was kidnapped, by Ram's nephew, a juvenile, and killed on January 14. Her body was found on January 17 in a forest. The investigators also said that the girl as kept in a temple where Sanji Ram was the custodian. The aim of the kidnapping was to scare and drive away the nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal communities from the area, PTI quoted investigators. Sanji Ram further told the investigators that he found out about the Kathua rape case on January 13 when the nephew confessed to him. The boy took a long time in carrying out a task given to him by Sanji Ram which enraged him, and he beat him up. That is when the nephew confessed to Sanji Ram about the crime he had committed, the investigators said, and also named his son Vishal as partner in crime. Sanji Ram then decided to kill the girl as he did not want to leave any evidence that led to his son, the investigators said. According to the plan hatched by Sanji Ram and other accused, the girl was taken out of the temple on the intervening night of January 13 and 14. Police officer Deepak Khajuria who joined them, wanted to rape the girl once more before she was killed. The eight-year-old was killed on January 14, but things didn't go as planned. The body of the child was to be transported and disposed of in the Hiranagar canal nearby. However, a vehicle could not be arranged in time. The juvenile, Sanji Ram's son Vishal, Khajuria and another accused Mannu lifted the body and took it back to the temple while Ram kept watch outside, the investigators said. Further investigation showed that Sanji Ram told his nephew and his son the next day that his friend had refused to bring a car so the two had to throw it in the jungle. Preparations for the abduction had started on January 7 when sedatives and 'manar' (local cannabis or bhang) were purchased, the police chargesheet said. The child was sedated with 'manar' and kept in the temple covered with a rug and a mattress weighing nearly 15 kg, investigators said. However, Sanji Ram's lawyer Ankur Sharma refused to comment on the investigators' version, saying it would not be appropriate for him to discuss defence strategy. "At least the defence lawyer should not be commenting on the merits of the case. It is like leaking your strategy as a defence lawyer," he said. The police chargesheets - a separate chargesheet was filed for the juvenile - named Ram, his nephew, his son Vishal, SPOs Khajuria and Surender Verma and Mannu. While Ram has been charged with murder, kidnapping and destruction of evidence, Mannu has been charged with kidnapping. The other three have rape added to the list of charges. The chargesheet also names head constable Tilak Raj and sub-inspector Anand Dutta - who allegedly took Rs 4 lakh from Sanji Ram and destroyed crucial evidence. All of them have been charged under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for criminal conspiracy. On January 23, the government handed over the case to the Crime Branch of the state police, which formed a Special Investigation Team and arrested the eight people. The accused pleaded not guilty on the opening day of the trial in the principal district and sessions court on April 16. The next hearing in the case is on April 28.

Kathua rape case: Main accused Sanji Ram planned girl's murder to save son, say investigators

The Supreme Court on Friday will resume hearing the case of alleged rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl belonging to Jammu and Kashmir`s Kathua area.

The case dates back to January when a minor girl belonging to the nomadic Bakerwal Tribe was allegedly abducted, drugged, gang-raped, tortured and killed.

On Thursday, the inquiry panel of the Bar Council of India (BCI) that is investigating the aforementioned case rejected claims that lawyers of the Jammu Bar had threatened the raped victim's lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat.

The inquiry panel also rejected allegations that the police had been stopped from filing a charge-sheet in court.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Vikas Singh, appearing on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association, told a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that no lawyer had threatened Rajawat or had stopped the police from filing a charge sheet against the accused."Nobody or no lawyer has threatened the victim`s lawyer, Deepika Singh Rajawat, and or stopped the police from filing the charge sheet against the accused persons in the alleged Kathua rape and murder case," Singh told the court.

The apex court observed, "We are only concerned with the victim's families getting justice expeditiously, or, about how the investigation and trial would go on. Let us be clear and focus on investigation and about the trial of the case."

Meanwhile, Chandan Sharma, the lawyer of two of the accused-Sanji Ram and Vishal Jangotra - told the court that the investigation must be fair, transparent and judicious as it is the minimum requirement of the rule of law.

On Thursday, the inquiry panel of the Bar Council of India (BCI) that is investigating the aforementioned case rejected claims that lawyers of the Jammu Bar had threatened the raped victim's lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat

The Supreme Court on Friday will resume hearing the case of alleged rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl belonging to Jammu and Kashmir`s Kathua area. The case dates back to January when a minor girl belonging to the nomadic Bakerwal Tribe was allegedly abducted, drugged, gang-raped, tortured and killed. On Thursday, the inquiry panel of the Bar Council of India (BCI) that is investigating the aforementioned case rejected claims that lawyers of the Jammu Bar had threatened the raped victim's lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat. The inquiry panel also rejected allegations that the police had been stopped from filing a charge-sheet in court. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Vikas Singh, appearing on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association, told a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that no lawyer had threatened Rajawat or had stopped the police from filing a charge sheet against the accused."Nobody or no lawyer has threatened the victim`s lawyer, Deepika Singh Rajawat, and or stopped the police from filing the charge sheet against the accused persons in the alleged Kathua rape and murder case," Singh told the court. The apex court observed, "We are only concerned with the victim's families getting justice expeditiously, or, about how the investigation and trial would go on. Let us be clear and focus on investigation and about the trial of the case." Meanwhile, Chandan Sharma, the lawyer of two of the accused-Sanji Ram and Vishal Jangotra - told the court that the investigation must be fair, transparent and judicious as it is the minimum requirement of the rule of law.

Supreme Court to resume hearing Kathua rape case today

Grotesque and barbaric is the only way to describe the rape and murder of an eight-year-old child, in a country where women and girls are traditionally revered as Goddesses.

There have been numerous cases of rape across the country, however, the story of the little girl from Kathua, who was sedated, gang-raped, tortured and then murdered has haunted us all. She was killed in January 2018, but the details of the case grabbed national headlines only in April this was partly due to the heinous nature of the crime, and disturbing allegations that the child's treatment was the result of a concerted plan of action to drive out the nomadic Muslim community which her family belongs to.

Since then, the media in India has been awash with case after case of babies and girls being raped across India, with little to no action taking place to prevent this deluge of sexual assault and violence. From an eight-month-old baby girl in Indore, to a nine-year-old in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, to a 10-year-old girl in Chhattisgarh, to the rape of a 16-year-old in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh (allegedly by a leader in the Bharatiya Janata Party, India's ruling party), there is seemingly a new atrocious daily headline on the rape and murder of a child.

All the while, elected officials have either been shockingly silent, or have spoken out too late, and some have even shown their active support for the accused perpetrators of such crimes.

Have we become so numbed in India that such revelations no longer hold any shock value for us? Has the simple humanity of protecting our innocent and helpless children from harm, the most important duty of every adult in India, forsaken us?

Consider this. In 2016, over 19,000 cases of rape were registered in India. In 2017, in India's capital Delhi, an average of five rapes was reported every day. In response, through an executive order and cabinet approval, the Indian government introduced the death penalty for those found guilty of the rape of a child under the age of 12.

Globally, death sentences are coming to an end. It is my personal belief that the death penalty will have little or no effect, however heinous the crime is. As Friedrich Nietzsche said, "When fighting a monster, be careful not to become a monster yourself."

The issue India is grappling with at present is an endemic, societal problem and no quick fixes are likely to solve it. Harsh penalties alone will not be a deterrent. As the malaise is systemic, so too should be the cure.

So here is a four-tier approach:

First, it is important to increase the reporting of rape and assault. Across the world rape is a generally underreported crime this is all the more true in India. It is essential that women and children be educated on their rights on reporting of a violent act against them through an active social media campaign.

Secondly, it is absolutely vital that law enforcers are trained to react swiftly and with sensitivity to women and children who have been harassed, assaulted or raped. Sensitivity training and knowledge of the rights of women and children are another vital need and must be made mandatory for all law enforcement agencies.

Thirdly, punishments need to be exemplary and widely covered in the media. There must be a "shock and awe" campaign of zero tolerance against sex offenders and those who kill and violate women and children. Fast track courts must ensure that the law is surgical and unrelenting in pursuing and ensuring that such offenders face the full force of justice, regardless of their rank and station.

And finally, a nationwide campaign is needed to ignite values and traditions that respect and nurture women and children. This can only be borne out of consensus in society. Awareness among men of the scope of this issue is critical. Men who turn a blind eye to such brutal acts in their own neighbourhoods, communities and families are just as culpable as those that perpetrate these acts. Action from courts and police will not suffice if the community remains defiantly opposed to change.

So the biggest question remains: How exactly to engage the entire populace to initiate a change in mindset? How can a national conversation on this subject be leveraged into national action?

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Have we become so numbed in India that such revelations no longer hold any shock value for us?

Grotesque and barbaric is the only way to describe the rape and murder of an eight-year-old child, in a country where women and girls are traditionally revered as Goddesses. There have been numerous cases of rape across the country, however, the story of the little girl from Kathua, who was sedated, gang-raped, tortured and then murdered has haunted us all. She was killed in January 2018, but the details of the case grabbed national headlines only in April this was partly due to the heinous nature of the crime, and disturbing allegations that the child's treatment was the result of a concerted plan of action to drive out the nomadic Muslim community which her family belongs to. Since then, the media in India has been awash with case after case of babies and girls being raped across India, with little to no action taking place to prevent this deluge of sexual assault and violence. From an eight-month-old baby girl in Indore, to a nine-year-old in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, to a 10-year-old girl in Chhattisgarh, to the rape of a 16-year-old in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh (allegedly by a leader in the Bharatiya Janata Party, India's ruling party), there is seemingly a new atrocious daily headline on the rape and murder of a child. All the while, elected officials have either been shockingly silent, or have spoken out too late, and some have even shown their active support for the accused perpetrators of such crimes. Have we become so numbed in India that such revelations no longer hold any shock value for us? Has the simple humanity of protecting our innocent and helpless children from harm, the most important duty of every adult in India, forsaken us? Consider this. In 2016, over 19,000 cases of rape were registered in India. In 2017, in India's capital Delhi, an average of five rapes was reported every day. In response, through an executive order and cabinet approval, the Indian government introduced the death penalty for those found guilty of the rape of a child under the age of 12. Globally, death sentences are coming to an end. It is my personal belief that the death penalty will have little or no effect, however heinous the crime is. As Friedrich Nietzsche said, "When fighting a monster, be careful not to become a monster yourself." The issue India is grappling with at present is an endemic, societal problem and no quick fixes are likely to solve it. Harsh penalties alone will not be a deterrent. As the malaise is systemic, so too should be the cure. So here is a four-tier approach: First, it is important to increase the reporting of rape and assault. Across the world rape is a generally underreported crime this is all the more true in India. It is essential that women and children be educated on their rights on reporting of a violent act against them through an active social media campaign. Secondly, it is absolutely vital that law enforcers are trained to react swiftly and with sensitivity to women and children who have been harassed, assaulted or raped. Sensitivity training and knowledge of the rights of women and children are another vital need and must be made mandatory for all law enforcement agencies. Thirdly, punishments need to be exemplary and widely covered in the media. There must be a "shock and awe" campaign of zero tolerance against sex offenders and those who kill and violate women and children. Fast track courts must ensure that the law is surgical and unrelenting in pursuing and ensuring that such offenders face the full force of justice, regardless of their rank and station. And finally, a nationwide campaign is needed to ignite values and traditions that respect and nurture women and children. This can only be borne out of consensus in society. Awareness among men of the scope of this issue is critical. Men who turn a blind eye to such brutal acts in their own neighbourhoods, communities and families are just as culpable as those that perpetrate these acts. Action from courts and police will not suffice if the community remains defiantly opposed to change. So the biggest question remains: How exactly to engage the entire populace to initiate a change in mindset? How can a national conversation on this subject be leveraged into national action? (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Suggestions to prevent Kathua-like incidents

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh has blamed "porn" for the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/death-penalty-to-child-rapists-president-ram-nath-kovind-promulgates-the-ordinance-to-amend-pocso-act-131985">rising number of child rapes and molestation cases</a> against women.

He also said that his&nbsp;government was thinking of banning pornography in Madhya Pradesh and that they would seek Centre's assistance for the same.

He said, " We think the reason for rising number of child rapes and molestation cases is porn. We are contemplating banning porn in Madhya Pradesh, will approach Centre in the Centre."

His comments have come at a time when regular reports&nbsp;of&nbsp;rape and molestation were reported in the country.&nbsp;

The country recently engulfed in a massive outrage over the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old&nbsp;in Kathua Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

To counter the rising number of crimes against children and women in the country the government has also introduced strict amendments in the POCSO Act&nbsp;allowing courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age.

&nbsp;

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We think the reason for rising number of child rape and molestation cases is porn. We are contemplating banning porn in Madhya Pradesh, will approach Centre in the matter: Bhupendra Singh, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister <a href="https://t.co/sTpHIkGq5I">pic.twitter.com/sTpHIkGq5I</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/988613497394167808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said, 'We think the reason for rising number of child rapes and molestation cases is porn. We are contemplating banning porn in Madhya Pradesh, will approach Centre in the Centre'

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh has blamed "porn" for the rising number of child rapes and molestation cases against women. He also said that his government was thinking of banning pornography in Madhya Pradesh and that they would seek Centre's assistance for the same. He said, " We think the reason for rising number of child rapes and molestation cases is porn. We are contemplating banning porn in Madhya Pradesh, will approach Centre in the Centre." His comments have come at a time when regular reports of rape and molestation were reported in the country. The country recently engulfed in a massive outrage over the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua Jammu and Kashmir. To counter the rising number of crimes against children and women in the country the government has also introduced strict amendments in the POCSO Act allowing courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age. We think the reason for rising number of child rape and molestation cases is porn. We are contemplating banning porn in Madhya Pradesh, will approach Centre in the matter: Bhupendra Singh, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister pic.twitter.com/sTpHIkGq5I — ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2018 ×

Thinking of banning pornography in Madhya Pradesh, will stop rapes: State home minister

Anushka Sharma has said she is "1,000 per cent" in support of the ordinance promulgated on Sunday which provides stringent punishment, including"death"penalty, for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years. 
 
Speaking to reporters at an event on Monday, Anushka said, "I am very happy with it. I will be completely, 1,000 per cent in support of the most severe punishment that there is (for someone) who spoils something as innocent as a child." She called such crimes the "worst thing to do as a human being".

Anushka added that, like everyone else, she was "deeply hurt and disgusted" by the Kathua incident in Jammu and Kashmir, in which an eight-year-old girl was held captive in a temple there and was repeatedly raped before being killed.

The body of the girl, belonging to a minority nomadic community, was found on January 17 from Rassana forest, a week after she went missing while grazing her horses. 
"Like everyone in the country, I am deeply hurt by the incident. Even now when I think about it, I feel disgusted and extremely emotional. Like I said in my statement earlier, the most severe punishment has to be meted out to the people involved," she said.

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I am in absolute support of it. Child rape is the worst thing a human being can do. Strictest & the harshest punishment possible should be given to such people: Anushka Sharma on the ordinance to amend POCSO Act <a href="https://t.co/EwmErD5AzQ">pic.twitter.com/EwmErD5AzQ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/988598074896474112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On the work front, Anushka, who will have a packed year with Sui Dhaga, Zero&nbsp;and a cameo in the Sanjay Dutt biopic, spoke about the Dutt biopic. 
 
"That (the Dutt biopic) is"one film you guys will be very excited and happy seeing. I saw the teaser recently and I liked it a lot. I have a cameo in it. I'm really looking forward to watching the film," she said.&nbsp;

(With agency inputs)

Anushka said, like everyone else, she was "deeply hurt and disgusted" by the Kathua incident in Jammu and Kashmir.

Anushka Sharma has said she is "1,000 per cent" in support of the ordinance promulgated on Sunday which provides stringent punishment, including"death"penalty, for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years. Speaking to reporters at an event on Monday, Anushka said, "I am very happy with it. I will be completely, 1,000 per cent in support of the most severe punishment that there is (for someone) who spoils something as innocent as a child." She called such crimes the "worst thing to do as a human being". Anushka added that, like everyone else, she was "deeply hurt and disgusted" by the Kathua incident in Jammu and Kashmir, in which an eight-year-old girl was held captive in a temple there and was repeatedly raped before being killed. The body of the girl, belonging to a minority nomadic community, was found on January 17 from Rassana forest, a week after she went missing while grazing her horses. "Like everyone in the country, I am deeply hurt by the incident. Even now when I think about it, I feel disgusted and extremely emotional. Like I said in my statement earlier, the most severe punishment has to be meted out to the people involved," she said. I am in absolute support of it. Child rape is the worst thing a human being can do. Strictest & the harshest punishment possible should be given to such people: Anushka Sharma on the ordinance to amend POCSO Act pic.twitter.com/EwmErD5AzQ — ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2018 × On the work front, Anushka, who will have a packed year with Sui Dhaga, Zero and a cameo in the Sanjay Dutt biopic, spoke about the Dutt biopic. "That (the Dutt biopic) is"one film you guys will be very excited and happy seeing. I saw the teaser recently and I liked it a lot. I have a cameo in it. I'm really looking forward to watching the film," she said. (With agency inputs)

Anushka Sharma: Fully support capital punishment for rapists of minors

President&nbsp;Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the ordinance to amend the POCSO act today, a day after it was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-cabinet-approves-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-under-12-131823">cleared by the Union Cabinet</a>.

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&nbsp;

The ordinance will&nbsp;allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age.

The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved an ordinance to allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age.

Official sources said that the criminal law amendment ordinance seeks to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Evidence Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to introduce a new provision to sentence convicts of such crimes punishment of death.

The move comes against the backdrop of the alleged rape and murder of girls in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and Gujarat's Surat district recently.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/death-for-raping-children-what-the-ordinance-says-131971">Death for raping children — What the ordinance says</a>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/president-promulgates-fugitive-economic-offenders-ordinance-131972">President promulgates fugitive economic offenders ordinance</a>

New fast-track courts will be set up to deal with such cases and special forensic kits for rape cases will be given to all police stations and hospitals in the long term, according to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2018.

All cases of rape has to be mandatorily completed within two months. A six-month time limit for the disposal of appeals in rape cases has also been prescribed.

It stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 16 and 12 years.&nbsp;

Death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years, with the minimum jail term being 20 years which may go up to life in prison.

The minimum punishment in case of rape of women has been increased from rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment,

In case of rape of a girl under 16 years, the minimum punishment has been increased from 10 years to 20 years, extendable to imprisonment for rest of life, which means jail term till the convict's "natural life".

The punishment for gangrape of a girl below 16 years will invariably be imprisonment for the rest of life of the convict, the officials said.

There will also be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gang rape of a girl under 16 years.&nbsp;

The President last night also promulgated Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance that will allow the government to confiscate properties and assets of loan defaulters who flee the country.

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President <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamNathKovind?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RamNathKovind</a> promulgates the ordinance to amend POCSO act(death sentence to those found guilty of raping a child below 12 years of age) <a href="https://t.co/AryWHQy4Mt">pic.twitter.com/AryWHQy4Mt</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/987924224152043521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from PTI)

The ordinance will allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age

President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the ordinance to amend the POCSO act today, a day after it was cleared by the Union Cabinet. × The ordinance will allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age. The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved an ordinance to allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age. Official sources said that the criminal law amendment ordinance seeks to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Evidence Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to introduce a new provision to sentence convicts of such crimes punishment of death. The move comes against the backdrop of the alleged rape and murder of girls in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and Gujarat's Surat district recently. Also read: Death for raping children — What the ordinance says Also read: President promulgates fugitive economic offenders ordinance New fast-track courts will be set up to deal with such cases and special forensic kits for rape cases will be given to all police stations and hospitals in the long term, according to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2018. All cases of rape has to be mandatorily completed within two months. A six-month time limit for the disposal of appeals in rape cases has also been prescribed. It stipulates stringent punishment for perpetrators of rape, particularly of girls below 16 and 12 years. Death sentence has been provided for rapists of girls under 12 years, with the minimum jail term being 20 years which may go up to life in prison. The minimum punishment in case of rape of women has been increased from rigorous imprisonment of seven years to 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment, In case of rape of a girl under 16 years, the minimum punishment has been increased from 10 years to 20 years, extendable to imprisonment for rest of life, which means jail term till the convict's "natural life". The punishment for gangrape of a girl below 16 years will invariably be imprisonment for the rest of life of the convict, the officials said. There will also be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape or gang rape of a girl under 16 years. The President last night also promulgated Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance that will allow the government to confiscate properties and assets of loan defaulters who flee the country. President #RamNathKovind promulgates the ordinance to amend POCSO act(death sentence to those found guilty of raping a child below 12 years of age) pic.twitter.com/AryWHQy4Mt — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2018 × (With inputs from PTI)

Death penalty to child rapists: President promulgates the ordinance to amend POCSO Act

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it is shameful to play politics over the issues related to rapes and sexual assaults in the country.

Prime Minister Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of a nationwide outrage over the rape cases in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and Uttar Pradesh's Unnao.

Addressing a gathering at the event 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' in London, Prime Minister Modi said, "A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate this exploitation of our daughters?"

"When a child is raped, do we compare metrics versus earlier governments? That is shameful. We cannot say there were this many rapes in our government and that many of yours. There cannot be a worse way to deal with this issue," the prime minister added.

He further said that there is nothing worse than a child is raped, while raising a question to the audience that why do the parents get worried when their girl child comes late to home but never asks the boy child about his whereabouts.

The person who is "committing the sin" is somebody's son Prime Minister Modi said while calling the rape incidents as a cause of concern for the entire nation.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/live-pm-modi-set-to-speak-at-central-hall-westminster-131249">Read the full text of Modi's address at Central Hall Westminster</a>

In the Kathua case, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly drugged, tortured and gang-raped continuously for a week by eight people in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua in January.

In the Unnao case, the victim has alleged that she was raped by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar at his residence on June 4, 2017, where she had gone with a relative seeking a job.

Modi said making India a secured nation for women is one of his utmost priority. "When I addressed the nation for the first time from the ramparts of Red Fort, I expressed anguish over the hardship faced by our women. Why they have to fear for their safety each evening after it gets dark?"

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Live from London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath</a> event at Central Hall Westminster. <a href="https://t.co/fqYzelOaHy">https://t.co/fqYzelOaHy</a>
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Earlier, Modi had on Friday referred to the Kathua rape incident during his address on Dr BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary, saying, "Our daughters will get justice". His detractors, however, called the response inadequate, demanding a formal statement to be issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' event took place in the Westminster's Central Hall in London and was moderated by noted Indian lyricist Prasoon Joshi.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May for the leaders of the Commonwealth Nations.

Later on Thursday (local time), he will take part in the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting along with the other Commonwealth leaders.

(With inputs from ANI)

The prime minister did not specify if he was talking about a particular instance of rape but it was clear that his comments were in the context of the Kathua and Unnao gangrape cases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it is shameful to play politics over the issues related to rapes and sexual assaults in the country. Prime Minister Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of a nationwide outrage over the rape cases in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and Uttar Pradesh's Unnao. Addressing a gathering at the event 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' in London, Prime Minister Modi said, "A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate this exploitation of our daughters?" "When a child is raped, do we compare metrics versus earlier governments? That is shameful. We cannot say there were this many rapes in our government and that many of yours. There cannot be a worse way to deal with this issue," the prime minister added. He further said that there is nothing worse than a child is raped, while raising a question to the audience that why do the parents get worried when their girl child comes late to home but never asks the boy child about his whereabouts. The person who is "committing the sin" is somebody's son Prime Minister Modi said while calling the rape incidents as a cause of concern for the entire nation. Read the full text of Modi's address at Central Hall Westminster In the Kathua case, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly drugged, tortured and gang-raped continuously for a week by eight people in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua in January. In the Unnao case, the victim has alleged that she was raped by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar at his residence on June 4, 2017, where she had gone with a relative seeking a job. Modi said making India a secured nation for women is one of his utmost priority. "When I addressed the nation for the first time from the ramparts of Red Fort, I expressed anguish over the hardship faced by our women. Why they have to fear for their safety each evening after it gets dark?" #WATCH Live from London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at #BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath event at Central Hall Westminster. https://t.co/fqYzelOaHy — ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2018 × Earlier, Modi had on Friday referred to the Kathua rape incident during his address on Dr BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary, saying, "Our daughters will get justice". His detractors, however, called the response inadequate, demanding a formal statement to be issued by the Prime Minister's Office. 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' event took place in the Westminster's Central Hall in London and was moderated by noted Indian lyricist Prasoon Joshi. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May for the leaders of the Commonwealth Nations. Later on Thursday (local time), he will take part in the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting along with the other Commonwealth leaders. (With inputs from ANI)

Rape is rape, don't politicise such issues: PM Narendra Modi at London event

While a lot of Bollywood stars have expressed their anger on the Kathua case, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has maintained a stoic silence over the matter so far. But the actor&nbsp;recently broke his silence over the matter at an event recently and said&nbsp;he feels "disgusted" by it.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

When asked about his reaction, the 75-year-old star, who has been the face of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, said it was painful to even talk about it. 
 
"Mujhe uss vishay par charcha karne mein ghin aati hai. So uss vishay ko uchhalo mat. It's terrible to even talk about it.&nbsp; 
 
"(I feel disgusted even talking about it. So, don't rake up this issue. It is terrible to even talk about it," Bachchan told reporters. 
 
The actor was speaking at the song launch of his upcoming film 102 Not Out, in which he stars along with Rishi Kapoor.&nbsp; 
 
Several Bollywood celebrities have reacted angrily over the incidents and have demanded justice for the victims of the Kathua, Unnao and Surat rape cases that have generated a massive outrage against the perpetrators. 
 
In Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, an eight-year-old child from a minority nomadic community was allegedly held in captivity in a small village temple for a week in January this year during which she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death. 
 
The incident has sparked massive, countrywide outrage among people.&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)

While a lot of Bollywood stars have expressed their anger on the Kathua case, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has maintained a stoic silence over the matter so far.

While a lot of Bollywood stars have expressed their anger on the Kathua case, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has maintained a stoic silence over the matter so far. But the actor recently broke his silence over the matter at an event recently and said he feels "disgusted" by it. When asked about his reaction, the 75-year-old star, who has been the face of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, said it was painful to even talk about it. "Mujhe uss vishay par charcha karne mein ghin aati hai. So uss vishay ko uchhalo mat. It's terrible to even talk about it. "(I feel disgusted even talking about it. So, don't rake up this issue. It is terrible to even talk about it," Bachchan told reporters. The actor was speaking at the song launch of his upcoming film 102 Not Out, in which he stars along with Rishi Kapoor. Several Bollywood celebrities have reacted angrily over the incidents and have demanded justice for the victims of the Kathua, Unnao and Surat rape cases that have generated a massive outrage against the perpetrators. In Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, an eight-year-old child from a minority nomadic community was allegedly held in captivity in a small village temple for a week in January this year during which she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death. The incident has sparked massive, countrywide outrage among people. (With PTI inputs)

Amitabh Bachchan on Kathua rape case: It's terrible to even talk about it

India stood up Sunday to protest the recent Unnao and Kathua gang rapes.&nbsp;

Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Aligarh, Bhopal, and Goa and Kerala.&nbsp;

The Mumbai protest began at Bandra's Carter Road.&nbsp;

Ekta Kapoor had earlier tweeted: "Everyone should come. Whatever religion, gender or belief you belong to. For humanity, for justice..."&nbsp;

The Delhi protest is being held at Parliament Street where, news reports said, Swati Maliwal, the chief of the Delhi Women's Commission, is holding a hunger strike.

The Kathua and Unnao gang rapes have left the nation in shock.&nbsp;

In the first attack, an eight-year-old girl was kept captive in a temple in Kathua, Jammu. The child was sedated and gang-raped repeatedly.&nbsp;

The alleged mastermind was a retired revenue official and policemen were allegedly involved in the crime.&nbsp;

The Unnao gang rape only came to light when the girl and her family tried to immolate themselves outside the residence of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.&nbsp;

The girl said she had been raped by the BJP MLA from Unnao Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates in May 2017 but had got no justice.&nbsp;

The girl's father died a few days later. He was reportedly beaten by Sengar's brother in front of the police who allegedly did nothing because of the MLA's clout.&nbsp;

Sengar's brother has been arrested. Sengar himself was finally arrested only after the CBI took over the case.&nbsp;

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Protest held over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unnao?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unnao</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kathua?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kathua</a> rape cases at Carter Rd in Mumbai's Bandra <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maharashtra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maharashtra</a> <a href="https://t.co/u3aCXue1fE">pic.twitter.com/u3aCXue1fE</a>
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Protest held at Parliament Street against Unnao & Kathua rape cases. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/JPAAiIgKMT">pic.twitter.com/JPAAiIgKMT</a>
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&nbsp;

Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Aligarh, Bhopal, and Goa and Kerala

India stood up Sunday to protest the recent Unnao and Kathua gang rapes. Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Aligarh, Bhopal, and Goa and Kerala. The Mumbai protest began at Bandra's Carter Road. Ekta Kapoor had earlier tweeted: "Everyone should come. Whatever religion, gender or belief you belong to. For humanity, for justice..." The Delhi protest is being held at Parliament Street where, news reports said, Swati Maliwal, the chief of the Delhi Women's Commission, is holding a hunger strike. The Kathua and Unnao gang rapes have left the nation in shock. In the first attack, an eight-year-old girl was kept captive in a temple in Kathua, Jammu. The child was sedated and gang-raped repeatedly. The alleged mastermind was a retired revenue official and policemen were allegedly involved in the crime. The Unnao gang rape only came to light when the girl and her family tried to immolate themselves outside the residence of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. The girl said she had been raped by the BJP MLA from Unnao Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates in May 2017 but had got no justice. The girl's father died a few days later. He was reportedly beaten by Sengar's brother in front of the police who allegedly did nothing because of the MLA's clout. Sengar's brother has been arrested. Sengar himself was finally arrested only after the CBI took over the case. Protest held over #Unnao & #Kathua rape cases at Carter Rd in Mumbai's Bandra #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/u3aCXue1fE — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2018 × Protest held at Parliament Street against Unnao & Kathua rape cases. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/JPAAiIgKMT — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2018 ×

India stands up to protest against Kathua, Unnao gang rapes

Forty-nine former bureaucrats have written a scathing open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Kathua and Unnao gang rapes.&nbsp;

"In post-independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble," the bureaucrats write in their letter.&nbsp;

"At this juncture, we see no light at the end of the tunnel and we hang our heads in shame," the letter says, before going on to add, "Our sense of shame is all the more acute because our younger colleagues who are still in service, especially those working in the districts and are required by law to care for and protect the weak and the vulnerable, also seem to have failed in their duty."&nbsp;

The letter blames the Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) and Unnao (UP) attacks on the BJP, which is in power in both states.&nbsp;

"This is a moment of existential crisis, a turning point – the way the government responds now will determine whether we as a nation and as a republic have the capacity to overcome the crisis of constitutional values, of governance and the ethical order within which we function," it says, before going on to suggest a to-do list for Prime Minister Modi to make amends.&nbsp;

The full text of the letter is reproduced below:&nbsp;

&nbsp;

We are a group of retired civil servants who came together last year to express our concern at the decline in the secular, democratic, and liberal values enshrined in our constitution. We did so to join other voices of protest against the frightening climate of hate, fear and viciousness that the ruling establishment had insidiously induced. We spoke then as we do now: as citizens who have no affiliations with any political party nor adherence to any political ideology other than the values enshrined in our Constitution.

We had hoped that as someone sworn to upholding the Constitution, the government that you head and the party to which you belong would wake up to this alarming decline, take the lead in stemming the rot and reassure everyone, especially the minorities and vulnerable sections of society, that they need not fear for their life and liberty. This hope has been destroyed.

Instead, the unspeakable horror of the Kathua and the Unnao incidents shows that the government has failed in performing the most basic of the responsibilities given to it by the people. We, in turn, have failed as a nation which took pride in its ethical, spiritual and cultural heritage and as a society which treasured its civilisational values of tolerance, compassion and fellow feeling. By giving sustenance to the brutality of one human being against another in the name of Hindus we have failed as human beings.

The bestiality and the barbarity involved in the rape and murder of an eight year old child shows the depths of depravity that we have sunk into. In post-independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble. At this juncture, we see no light at the end of the tunnel and we hang our heads in shame. Our sense of shame is all the more acute because our younger colleagues who are still in service, especially those working in the districts and are required by law to care for and protect the weak and the vulnerable, also seem to have failed in their duty.

Prime Minister, we write to you not just to express our collective sense of shame and not just to give voice to our anguish or lament and mourn the death of our civilisational values – but to express our rage. Rage over the agenda of division and hate your party and its innumerable, often untraceable offshoots that spring up from time to time, have insidiously introduced into the grammar of our politics, our social and cultural life and even our daily discourse. It is that which provides the social sanction and legitimacy for the incidents in Kathua and Unnao.&nbsp;

In Kathua in Jammu, it is the culture of majoritarian belligerence and aggression promoted by the Sangh parivar which emboldened rabid communal elements to pursue their perverse agenda. They knew that their behaviour would be endorsed by the politically powerful and those who have made their careers by polarising Hindus and Muslims across a sectarian divide.

In Unnao in UP, it is the reliance on the worst kinds of patriarchal feudal mafia dons to capture votes and political power that gives such persons the freedom to rape and murder and extort as a way of asserting their own personal power. But even more reprehensible than such abuse of power, it is the response of the state government in hounding the victim of rape and her family instead of the alleged perpetrator that shows how perverted governance practices have become. That the government of UP finally acted only when it was compelled to do so by the high court shows the hypocrisy and half-heartedness of its intent.

In both cases, Prime Minister, it is your party which is in power. Given your supremacy within the party and the centralised control you and your party president exercise, you, more than anyone else, have to be held responsible for this terrifying state of affairs. Instead of owning up and making reparations, however, you had until yesterday chosen to remain silent, breaking your silence only when public outrage both in India and internationally reached a point when you could no longer ignore it.

And even then, while you have condemned the act and expressed a sense of shame, you have not condemned the communal pathology behind the act nor shown the resolve to change the social, political and administrative conditions under which such communal hate is bred. We have had enough of these belated remonstrations and promises to bring justice when the communal cauldron is forever kept boiling by forces nested within the Sangh Parivar.

Prime Minister, these two incidents are not just ordinary crimes where, with the passage of time, the wounds inflicted on our social fabric, on our body politic and the moral fibre of our society will heal and it will soon be business as usual. This is a moment of existential crisis, a turning point – the way the government responds now will determine whether we as a nation and as a republic have the capacity to overcome the crisis of constitutional values, of governance and the ethical order within which we function.

And to this end we call upon you to do the following:

● Reach out to the families of the victims in Unnao and Kathua and seek their forgiveness on behalf of all of us.

● Fast-track the prosecution of the perpetrators in the Kathua case and request for a court directed SIT in the Unnao case, without further ado.

● In the memory of these innocent children and all other victims of hate crime, renew a pledge to offer special protection to Muslims, to Dalits, to members of other minority communities, to women and children so that they need not fear for their life and liberty and any threat to these will be extinguished with the full force of State authority.

● Take steps to remove from government anyone who has been associated with hate crimes and 
hate speeches.

● Call for an all party meeting to deliberate on ways in which the phenomenon of hate crime can be tackled socially, politically and administratively.

It is possible that even this may be too little too late but it will restore some sense of order and give hope that the free fall into anarchy can be arrested. We live in hope.

Signed: 
1. SP Ambrose, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Secretary, Ministry of Shipping and Transport, GoI 
2. Vappala Balachandran, IPS (Retd). Former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, GoI 
3. Chandrashekhar Balakrishnan. IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Coal, GoI 
4. Pradip Bhattacharya, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Development & Planning and Administrative Training Institute, Govt. of West Bengal 
5. Meeran C Borwankar, IPS (Retd). Former DGP, Bureau of Police Research and Development, GoI 
6. Sundar Burra, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra 
7. Javid Chowdhury, IAS (Retd). Former Health Secretary, GoI 
8. Anna Dani, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra 
9. Surjit K. Das. IAS (Retd). Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Uttarakhand 
10. Vibha Puri Das. IAS (Retd) Former Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GoI 
11. Nareshwar Dayal. IFS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom 
12. Keshav Desiraju, IAS (Retd). Former Health Secretary, GoI 
13. M.G. Devasahayam, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Govt. of Haryana 
14. Sushil Dubey, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Sweden 
15. K.P. Fabian, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Italy 
16. Meena Gupta, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, GoI 
17. Ravi Vira Gupta, IAS (Retd). Former Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India 
18. Wajahat Habibullah, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, GoI and Chief Information Commissioner 
19. Sajjad Hassan, IAS (Retd). Former Commissioner (Planning), Govt. of Manipur 
20. M.A. Ibrahimi, IAS (Retd). Former Chief Secretary (rank) Bihar 
21. Ajai Kumar, Indian Forest Service (Retd). Former Director, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI 
22. Arun Kumar, IAS (Retd). Former Chairman, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, GoI 
23. Harsh Mander, IAS (Retd). Govt. of Madhya Pradesh 
24. Aditi Mehta, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Rajasthan 
25. Sunil Mitra, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Finance, GoI 
26. Sobha Nambisan, IAS (Retd). Former Principal Secretary (Planning), Govt. of Karnataka 
27. Amitabha Pande, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Inter-State Council, GoI 
28. Niranjan Pant,IA&AS (Retd). Former Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General of India 
29. P. R. Parthasarathy, IPS (Retd). Former Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Govt. of Maharashtra 
30. Alok Perti, IAS (Retd) Former Secretary, Ministry of Coal, GoI 
31. N.K. Raghupathy, IAS (Retd). Former Chairman, Staff Selection Commission, GoI 
32. M.Y. Rao, IAS (Retd). 
33. Sujatha Rao, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Health, GoI 
34. Julio Ribeiro, IPS (Retd). Former Adviser to Governor of Punjab & Ambassador to Romania 
35. Aruna Roy, IAS (Resigned) 
36. Manabendra N. Roy, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal 
37. Umrao Salodia, IAS (Retd). Former Chairman, Rajasthan Road Transport Corporation, Govt. of Rajasthan 
38. Deepak Sanan, IAS (Retd). Former Principal Adviser (AR) to Chief Minister, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh 
39. E. A.S. Sarma, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, GoI 
40. N.C. Saxena, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Planning Commission, GoI 
41. Ardhendu Sen, IAS (Retd). Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal 
42. Abhijit Sengupta, IAS (Retd). Secretary, Ministry of Culture, GoI 
43. Aftab Seth, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Japan 
44. Navrekha Sharma, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Indonesia 
45. Har Mander Singh, IAS (Retd). Former Director General, ESI Corporation, GoI 
46. Jawhar Sircar, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Culture, GoI, & CEO, Prasar Bharati 
47. K.S. Subramanian, IPS (Retd). Former Director General, State Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development, Govt. of Tripura 
48. Geetha Thoopal, IRAS (Retd). Former General Manager, Metro Railway, Kolkata 
49. Ramani Venkatesan, IAS (Retd). Former Director General, YASHADA, Govt. Of Maharashtra

'This is a moment of existential crisis, a turning point — the way the government responds now will determine whether we as a nation and as a republic have the capacity to overcome the crisis of constitutional values, of governance and the ethical order within which we function,' the bureaucrats write in their letter

Forty-nine former bureaucrats have written a scathing open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Kathua and Unnao gang rapes. "In post-independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble," the bureaucrats write in their letter. "At this juncture, we see no light at the end of the tunnel and we hang our heads in shame," the letter says, before going on to add, "Our sense of shame is all the more acute because our younger colleagues who are still in service, especially those working in the districts and are required by law to care for and protect the weak and the vulnerable, also seem to have failed in their duty." The letter blames the Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) and Unnao (UP) attacks on the BJP, which is in power in both states. "This is a moment of existential crisis, a turning point – the way the government responds now will determine whether we as a nation and as a republic have the capacity to overcome the crisis of constitutional values, of governance and the ethical order within which we function," it says, before going on to suggest a to-do list for Prime Minister Modi to make amends. The full text of the letter is reproduced below: We are a group of retired civil servants who came together last year to express our concern at the decline in the secular, democratic, and liberal values enshrined in our constitution. We did so to join other voices of protest against the frightening climate of hate, fear and viciousness that the ruling establishment had insidiously induced. We spoke then as we do now: as citizens who have no affiliations with any political party nor adherence to any political ideology other than the values enshrined in our Constitution. We had hoped that as someone sworn to upholding the Constitution, the government that you head and the party to which you belong would wake up to this alarming decline, take the lead in stemming the rot and reassure everyone, especially the minorities and vulnerable sections of society, that they need not fear for their life and liberty. This hope has been destroyed. Instead, the unspeakable horror of the Kathua and the Unnao incidents shows that the government has failed in performing the most basic of the responsibilities given to it by the people. We, in turn, have failed as a nation which took pride in its ethical, spiritual and cultural heritage and as a society which treasured its civilisational values of tolerance, compassion and fellow feeling. By giving sustenance to the brutality of one human being against another in the name of Hindus we have failed as human beings. The bestiality and the barbarity involved in the rape and murder of an eight year old child shows the depths of depravity that we have sunk into. In post-independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble. At this juncture, we see no light at the end of the tunnel and we hang our heads in shame. Our sense of shame is all the more acute because our younger colleagues who are still in service, especially those working in the districts and are required by law to care for and protect the weak and the vulnerable, also seem to have failed in their duty. Prime Minister, we write to you not just to express our collective sense of shame and not just to give voice to our anguish or lament and mourn the death of our civilisational values – but to express our rage. Rage over the agenda of division and hate your party and its innumerable, often untraceable offshoots that spring up from time to time, have insidiously introduced into the grammar of our politics, our social and cultural life and even our daily discourse. It is that which provides the social sanction and legitimacy for the incidents in Kathua and Unnao. In Kathua in Jammu, it is the culture of majoritarian belligerence and aggression promoted by the Sangh parivar which emboldened rabid communal elements to pursue their perverse agenda. They knew that their behaviour would be endorsed by the politically powerful and those who have made their careers by polarising Hindus and Muslims across a sectarian divide. In Unnao in UP, it is the reliance on the worst kinds of patriarchal feudal mafia dons to capture votes and political power that gives such persons the freedom to rape and murder and extort as a way of asserting their own personal power. But even more reprehensible than such abuse of power, it is the response of the state government in hounding the victim of rape and her family instead of the alleged perpetrator that shows how perverted governance practices have become. That the government of UP finally acted only when it was compelled to do so by the high court shows the hypocrisy and half-heartedness of its intent. In both cases, Prime Minister, it is your party which is in power. Given your supremacy within the party and the centralised control you and your party president exercise, you, more than anyone else, have to be held responsible for this terrifying state of affairs. Instead of owning up and making reparations, however, you had until yesterday chosen to remain silent, breaking your silence only when public outrage both in India and internationally reached a point when you could no longer ignore it. And even then, while you have condemned the act and expressed a sense of shame, you have not condemned the communal pathology behind the act nor shown the resolve to change the social, political and administrative conditions under which such communal hate is bred. We have had enough of these belated remonstrations and promises to bring justice when the communal cauldron is forever kept boiling by forces nested within the Sangh Parivar. Prime Minister, these two incidents are not just ordinary crimes where, with the passage of time, the wounds inflicted on our social fabric, on our body politic and the moral fibre of our society will heal and it will soon be business as usual. This is a moment of existential crisis, a turning point – the way the government responds now will determine whether we as a nation and as a republic have the capacity to overcome the crisis of constitutional values, of governance and the ethical order within which we function. And to this end we call upon you to do the following: ● Reach out to the families of the victims in Unnao and Kathua and seek their forgiveness on behalf of all of us. ● Fast-track the prosecution of the perpetrators in the Kathua case and request for a court directed SIT in the Unnao case, without further ado. ● In the memory of these innocent children and all other victims of hate crime, renew a pledge to offer special protection to Muslims, to Dalits, to members of other minority communities, to women and children so that they need not fear for their life and liberty and any threat to these will be extinguished with the full force of State authority. ● Take steps to remove from government anyone who has been associated with hate crimes and hate speeches. ● Call for an all party meeting to deliberate on ways in which the phenomenon of hate crime can be tackled socially, politically and administratively. It is possible that even this may be too little too late but it will restore some sense of order and give hope that the free fall into anarchy can be arrested. We live in hope. Signed: 1. SP Ambrose, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Secretary, Ministry of Shipping and Transport, GoI 2. Vappala Balachandran, IPS (Retd). Former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, GoI 3. Chandrashekhar Balakrishnan. IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Coal, GoI 4. Pradip Bhattacharya, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Development & Planning and Administrative Training Institute, Govt. of West Bengal 5. Meeran C Borwankar, IPS (Retd). Former DGP, Bureau of Police Research and Development, GoI 6. Sundar Burra, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra 7. Javid Chowdhury, IAS (Retd). Former Health Secretary, GoI 8. Anna Dani, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra 9. Surjit K. Das. IAS (Retd). Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Uttarakhand 10. Vibha Puri Das. IAS (Retd) Former Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GoI 11. Nareshwar Dayal. IFS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom 12. Keshav Desiraju, IAS (Retd). Former Health Secretary, GoI 13. M.G. Devasahayam, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Govt. of Haryana 14. Sushil Dubey, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Sweden 15. K.P. Fabian, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Italy 16. Meena Gupta, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, GoI 17. Ravi Vira Gupta, IAS (Retd). Former Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India 18. Wajahat Habibullah, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, GoI and Chief Information Commissioner 19. Sajjad Hassan, IAS (Retd). Former Commissioner (Planning), Govt. of Manipur 20. M.A. Ibrahimi, IAS (Retd). Former Chief Secretary (rank) Bihar 21. Ajai Kumar, Indian Forest Service (Retd). Former Director, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI 22. Arun Kumar, IAS (Retd). Former Chairman, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, GoI 23. Harsh Mander, IAS (Retd). Govt. of Madhya Pradesh 24. Aditi Mehta, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Rajasthan 25. Sunil Mitra, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Finance, GoI 26. Sobha Nambisan, IAS (Retd). Former Principal Secretary (Planning), Govt. of Karnataka 27. Amitabha Pande, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Inter-State Council, GoI 28. Niranjan Pant,IA&AS (Retd). Former Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General of India 29. P. R. Parthasarathy, IPS (Retd). Former Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Govt. of Maharashtra 30. Alok Perti, IAS (Retd) Former Secretary, Ministry of Coal, GoI 31. N.K. Raghupathy, IAS (Retd). Former Chairman, Staff Selection Commission, GoI 32. M.Y. Rao, IAS (Retd). 33. Sujatha Rao, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Health, GoI 34. Julio Ribeiro, IPS (Retd). Former Adviser to Governor of Punjab & Ambassador to Romania 35. Aruna Roy, IAS (Resigned) 36. Manabendra N. Roy, IAS (Retd). Former Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal 37. Umrao Salodia, IAS (Retd). Former Chairman, Rajasthan Road Transport Corporation, Govt. of Rajasthan 38. Deepak Sanan, IAS (Retd). Former Principal Adviser (AR) to Chief Minister, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh 39. E. A.S. Sarma, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, GoI 40. N.C. Saxena, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Planning Commission, GoI 41. Ardhendu Sen, IAS (Retd). Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal 42. Abhijit Sengupta, IAS (Retd). Secretary, Ministry of Culture, GoI 43. Aftab Seth, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Japan 44. Navrekha Sharma, IFS (Retd). Former Ambassador to Indonesia 45. Har Mander Singh, IAS (Retd). Former Director General, ESI Corporation, GoI 46. Jawhar Sircar, IAS (Retd). Former Secretary, Ministry of Culture, GoI, & CEO, Prasar Bharati 47. K.S. Subramanian, IPS (Retd). Former Director General, State Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development, Govt. of Tripura 48. Geetha Thoopal, IRAS (Retd). Former General Manager, Metro Railway, Kolkata 49. Ramani Venkatesan, IAS (Retd). Former Director General, YASHADA, Govt. Of Maharashtra

'Our darkest hour,' 49 former bureaucrats write to PM Modi after Kathua, Unnao gang rapes

The trial in the gruesome Kathua rape and murder case begins today against eight accused who allegedly held an eight-year-old girl 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.

The accused include a juvenile against whom a separate charge sheet was filed.

The chief judicial magistrate of Kathua will be committing one of the charge sheets, in which seven people have been named, to the sessions court for trial as mandated under the law. The chief judicial magistrate will, however, hold the trial for the juvenile as it is the designated court under the juvenile act, according to officials.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed two special public prosecutors, both Sikhs, for the trial in the sensitive case, a move being seen as made to ensure "neutrality" in view of Hindu-Muslim polarisation over the case.

The trial is expected to go smoothly after the Jammu Bar association as well as the Kathua Bar received a rap on the kuckles by the Supreme Court on April 13 as the apex court took a strong note of some lawyers obstructing the judicial process in the case.

The Supreme Court initiated a case on its own record saying such impediment "affects the dispensation of justice and would amount to obstruction of access to justice".

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was also critical of the Jammu High Court Bar Association, which had passed a resolution not to attend the courts saying "it is the duty of the bar association as a collective body and they cannot obstruct the process of law".

According to the charge sheets filed by the crime branch, the abduction, rape and killing of the Bakerwal girl was part of a carefully planned strategy to remove the minority nomadic community from the area.

It lists the caretaker of 'Devisthan', a small temple, in a village in Kathua, about 90 km from here, as the main conspirator behind the crime.

Sanji Ram was allegedly joined by special police officers Deepak Khajuria and Surender Verma, friend Parvesh Kumar alias Mannu, Ram's nephew, a juvenile, and his son Vishal Jangotra alias "Shamma".

The charge sheet also names investigating officers head constable Tilak Raj and Sub-Inspector Anand Dutta, who allegedly took Rs 4 lakh from Ram and destroyed crucial evidence.

All eight are under arrest.

The crime branch will also be handing over the notices issued to the Jammu Bar Council as well as Kathua Bar Council for appearing before the Supreme Court on April 19.

The Bar Association of Kathua has already retracted from its earlier statement of providing legal assistance free of cost to the accused and said ?after going through the charge sheet presented by the crime branch (against the accused in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on April 9) it is revealed that the allegations against the accused persons are very grave and as such this case is to be dealt with in a professional way.

"As such, we have withdrawn our offer to contest the case free of cost. Accused are free to engage any individual advocate and exercise their respective rights of defence in the court. It is for any individual advocate to accept the brief and the bar association will not come in the way of defence nor the bar association will hamper the prosecution," President of BAK Kirty Bhushan Mahajan had said in a seven page statement yesterday.

Members of the same association had blocked the way of crime branch personnel from submitting the charge sheet before the chief judicial magistrate for six hours forcing the police to present it at the house of the magistrate.

Police have already registered a case against lawyers for obstructing public servants from performing their duty.

The Jammu Bar association, which was left red-faced after the Supreme Court's observation, attempted to put a brave face saying they had full faith in the apex court and said their main demand was for shifting of illegally settled Rohingyas.

It denounced the attempts made by certain quarters for making wrongful attempts to project the association as "pro-rapist" or "anti-national".

The association today fielded a senior woman advocate Surinder Kour who said "we are now satisfied that the case has reached the Supreme Court and we are satisfied that justice will be delivered to the minor girl."

JHCBA is on strike since April 4 and sponsored a general strike on April 11 in Jammu to press for its demands including for according district status to Nowshera sub division in Rajouri district.

"We included the demand for CBI probe into the Kathua rape and murder at the request of civil society," Kour said and accused the state government of forcing them into agitation by "giving no response to our concerns despite repeated memorandums and statements."&nbsp;

There are eight accused, including one juvenile

The trial in the gruesome Kathua rape and murder case begins today against eight accused who allegedly held an eight-year-old girl 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. The accused include a juvenile against whom a separate charge sheet was filed. The chief judicial magistrate of Kathua will be committing one of the charge sheets, in which seven people have been named, to the sessions court for trial as mandated under the law. The chief judicial magistrate will, however, hold the trial for the juvenile as it is the designated court under the juvenile act, according to officials. The Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed two special public prosecutors, both Sikhs, for the trial in the sensitive case, a move being seen as made to ensure "neutrality" in view of Hindu-Muslim polarisation over the case. The trial is expected to go smoothly after the Jammu Bar association as well as the Kathua Bar received a rap on the kuckles by the Supreme Court on April 13 as the apex court took a strong note of some lawyers obstructing the judicial process in the case. The Supreme Court initiated a case on its own record saying such impediment "affects the dispensation of justice and would amount to obstruction of access to justice". A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was also critical of the Jammu High Court Bar Association, which had passed a resolution not to attend the courts saying "it is the duty of the bar association as a collective body and they cannot obstruct the process of law". According to the charge sheets filed by the crime branch, the abduction, rape and killing of the Bakerwal girl was part of a carefully planned strategy to remove the minority nomadic community from the area. It lists the caretaker of 'Devisthan', a small temple, in a village in Kathua, about 90 km from here, as the main conspirator behind the crime. Sanji Ram was allegedly joined by special police officers Deepak Khajuria and Surender Verma, friend Parvesh Kumar alias Mannu, Ram's nephew, a juvenile, and his son Vishal Jangotra alias "Shamma". The charge sheet also names investigating officers head constable Tilak Raj and Sub-Inspector Anand Dutta, who allegedly took Rs 4 lakh from Ram and destroyed crucial evidence. All eight are under arrest. The crime branch will also be handing over the notices issued to the Jammu Bar Council as well as Kathua Bar Council for appearing before the Supreme Court on April 19. The Bar Association of Kathua has already retracted from its earlier statement of providing legal assistance free of cost to the accused and said ?after going through the charge sheet presented by the crime branch (against the accused in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on April 9) it is revealed that the allegations against the accused persons are very grave and as such this case is to be dealt with in a professional way. "As such, we have withdrawn our offer to contest the case free of cost. Accused are free to engage any individual advocate and exercise their respective rights of defence in the court. It is for any individual advocate to accept the brief and the bar association will not come in the way of defence nor the bar association will hamper the prosecution," President of BAK Kirty Bhushan Mahajan had said in a seven page statement yesterday. Members of the same association had blocked the way of crime branch personnel from submitting the charge sheet before the chief judicial magistrate for six hours forcing the police to present it at the house of the magistrate. Police have already registered a case against lawyers for obstructing public servants from performing their duty. The Jammu Bar association, which was left red-faced after the Supreme Court's observation, attempted to put a brave face saying they had full faith in the apex court and said their main demand was for shifting of illegally settled Rohingyas. It denounced the attempts made by certain quarters for making wrongful attempts to project the association as "pro-rapist" or "anti-national". The association today fielded a senior woman advocate Surinder Kour who said "we are now satisfied that the case has reached the Supreme Court and we are satisfied that justice will be delivered to the minor girl." JHCBA is on strike since April 4 and sponsored a general strike on April 11 in Jammu to press for its demands including for according district status to Nowshera sub division in Rajouri district. "We included the demand for CBI probe into the Kathua rape and murder at the request of civil society," Kour said and accused the state government of forcing them into agitation by "giving no response to our concerns despite repeated memorandums and statements."

Kathua gang rape and murder trial to begin today

Congress President Rahul Gandhi led a midnight protest Thursday against the Kathua and Unnao gang rapes at Delhi's India Gate.&nbsp;

"Like millions of Indians my heart hurts tonight. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does," Rahul tweeted on Thursday. &nbsp;

Rahul said the protest would be a "silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil".&nbsp;

"Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice," Rahul tweeted.&nbsp;

The Kathua and Unnao gang rapes have left the nation in shock.&nbsp;

In the first incident, an eight-year-old girl was kept captive in a temple in Kathua, Jammu. The child was sedated and raped repeatedly.&nbsp;

The alleged mastermind was a retired revenue official and policemen were allegedly involved in the crime.&nbsp;

Eight people have so far been arrested.&nbsp;

The Unnao incident only came to light when the girl and her family tried to immolate themselves outside the residence of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister on Sunday.&nbsp;

The girl's father — she was 17 when she was allegedly gang-raped — died a few days later, reportedly in police custody.&nbsp;

The main accused is the BJP MLA from Unnao, Kuldeep Singh Sengar.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unnao-gangrape-case-high-court-slams-up-govt-over-delay-in-accused-mlas-arrest-130128">High court slams UP govt over </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unnao-gangrape-case-high-court-slams-up-govt-over-delay-in-accused-mlas-arrest-130128">delay</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unnao-gangrape-case-high-court-slams-up-govt-over-delay-in-accused-mlas-arrest-130128"> in accused MLA's arrest</a>

A video has since surfaced of the girl's father saying he had been beaten by Sengar's brother in front of the police, but they did nothing because of the MLA's clout.&nbsp;

An FIR was finally filed on Thursday.&nbsp;

Sengar has been accused of, among other crimes, rape and kidnapping but he has not yet been arrested with the police saying the CBI would do so.&nbsp;

The case has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp;

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Like millions of Indians my heart hurts tonight. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does. 
 
Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice.
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Rahul said the protest would be a 'silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil'

Congress President Rahul Gandhi led a midnight protest Thursday against the Kathua and Unnao gang rapes at Delhi's India Gate. "Like millions of Indians my heart hurts tonight. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does," Rahul tweeted on Thursday. Rahul said the protest would be a "silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil". "Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice," Rahul tweeted. The Kathua and Unnao gang rapes have left the nation in shock. In the first incident, an eight-year-old girl was kept captive in a temple in Kathua, Jammu. The child was sedated and raped repeatedly. The alleged mastermind was a retired revenue official and policemen were allegedly involved in the crime. Eight people have so far been arrested. The Unnao incident only came to light when the girl and her family tried to immolate themselves outside the residence of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister on Sunday. The girl's father — she was 17 when she was allegedly gang-raped — died a few days later, reportedly in police custody. The main accused is the BJP MLA from Unnao, Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Also read: High court slams UP govt over delay in accused MLA's arrest A video has since surfaced of the girl's father saying he had been beaten by Sengar's brother in front of the police, but they did nothing because of the MLA's clout. An FIR was finally filed on Thursday. Sengar has been accused of, among other crimes, rape and kidnapping but he has not yet been arrested with the police saying the CBI would do so. The case has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Like millions of Indians my heart hurts tonight. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does. Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 12, 2018 ×

Kathua, Unnao gang rapes: Rahul Gandhi leads midnight protest at Delhi's India Gate

Reacting to the gruesome rape of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister VK Singh tweeted on Thursday saying " We have failed as humans".

He further demanded punishment for the accused involved and assured that she will not be denied justice

The eight-year-old was allegedly&nbsp;gang-raped by six men who held her in captive in a small temple&nbsp;for several days.

The accused drugged her and repeatedly gang-raped&nbsp;her for days before finally killing&nbsp;her with a rock.

The charge sheet filed against the six involved, states that one of the police officers asked the killer to wait before smashing her with the&nbsp;rock so that he could rape her for the last time.

The body of the girl was found in the forests on January 17 while she was kidnapped from her village on January 10.

Six people including two policemen have been arrested in the rape and murder of the girl.

The crime was planned to&nbsp;instil fear among the community, Bakherwas nomads, which the girl belonged to.&nbsp;

VK Singh is the first Union Minister to have spoken demanding a justice for the girl.

Earlier BJP leader Jitendra Singh backed the accused involved in the terrifying incident saying&nbsp;"Those who have not done anything wrong should be given justice". He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.

Sanji Ram is the main accused in the case. The others arrested include special police officers Deepak Khajuria and Surender Verma, Parvesh Kumaru, Sanji Ram's minor nephew and his son Vishal Jangotra.

Some reports also suggest that two policemen also tried to manipulate evidence in order to help the accused.

&nbsp;

'She will not be denied justice,' Singh added. Eight-year-old was allegedly gang-raped by six men who held her captive in a temple for several days

Reacting to the gruesome rape of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister VK Singh tweeted on Thursday saying " We have failed as humans". He further demanded punishment for the accused involved and assured that she will not be denied justice The eight-year-old was allegedly gang-raped by six men who held her in captive in a small temple for several days. The accused drugged her and repeatedly gang-raped her for days before finally killing her with a rock. The charge sheet filed against the six involved, states that one of the police officers asked the killer to wait before smashing her with the rock so that he could rape her for the last time. The body of the girl was found in the forests on January 17 while she was kidnapped from her village on January 10. Six people including two policemen have been arrested in the rape and murder of the girl. The crime was planned to instil fear among the community, Bakherwas nomads, which the girl belonged to. VK Singh is the first Union Minister to have spoken demanding a justice for the girl. Earlier BJP leader Jitendra Singh backed the accused involved in the terrifying incident saying "Those who have not done anything wrong should be given justice". He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. Sanji Ram is the main accused in the case. The others arrested include special police officers Deepak Khajuria and Surender Verma, Parvesh Kumaru, Sanji Ram's minor nephew and his son Vishal Jangotra. Some reports also suggest that two policemen also tried to manipulate evidence in order to help the accused.

Kathua child gang rape: 'We have failed her as humans,' says VK Singh

The investigations in the gangrape and murder of Kathua girl have shown that the motive of the crime was to drive away Bakarwal community from the area. The key accused Sanji Ram, a retired revenue official was against the settlement of Bakarwals in Rasana Kootah, and Dhamyal area of Kathua district. The police investigation also mentions that apart from other things suspicion of cow slaughter was one of the reasons for the hatred towards victim’s community.

“During investigation, it transpired that a particular community had a general impression that the Bakarwals indulge in cow slaughter and drug trafficking”, says the 18-page charge sheet filed by the police in the court.

As per the details that are emerging out from the investigations Sanji Ram always kept on motivating the members of his community of the area not to provide land for grazing or any other kind of assistance.

Sometime back one Harnam Singh had sold land to one Bakarwal and Sanji Ram had started accompanying against said Harnam Singh.

“He also utilized the services of Ex-sarpanch of Kootah and Rasana area against said Harnam Singh and managed to stop the payment on account of installation of telephone towers in his land through the concerned tehsildar on the plea that the land in question was a state land. Ultimately Harnam Singh approached the Hon’ble High court and got the impugned order of Tehsildar quashed”, details the chargesheet.

The police report details several incidents in past where Sanji Ram had been seen conspiring against the Bakarwal community. Head Constable Tilak and SPO Deepak Khajuria were also against the settlement of Bakarwals in Rasana, Kootah and Dhamyal area who had already discussed this issue with Sanji Ram to Chalk out a strategy for dislodging the Bakarwals from the area.

“They were blaming&nbsp;the Bakarwals on one pretext or the other and used to threaten them”, mentions the police report

The investigators have been able to establish that the accused had reasons to act against the Bakarwal Community.

“The conspiracy ultimately resulted in&nbsp;the gruesome rape and brutal murder of an innocent child of only 8 years of age, who being a small kid became a soft target”, says the chargesheet.

As per the investigations, the girl&nbsp;was kidnapped on 10th of January, drugged and kept in the temple (Devi Sathan) which was managed by Sanji Ram. For days she was repeatedly drugged and gang-raped. On the day when she was finally killed the accused gangraped her one more time and then strangulated her. They also hit her with a stone to ensure she had died.&nbsp;

Jammu Bar Association including Kathua Bar association and Kathua Hindu Ekta morcha had objected the Crime Branch investigation and are asking for CBI enquiry, a couple of top leaders who are serving ministers in collation government of state backed the bar and morcha and approached to chief minister with a demand that case should be given to CBI, but chief minister rejected the demand.

Bar continued their agitation and crime branch was stopped to produce the challan in Kathua CJM court but after 5 hours of wait, crime branch managed to produce the challan of the case against 7 persons arrested in the case who are alleged have done this crime. soon bar called for a shutdown for 11th April&nbsp;in Jammu, but state BJP&nbsp;unit and chamber of commerce Jammu had distanced themselves from the shutdown call.

On the other hand in Kashmir&nbsp;protesters were seen demanding justice for&nbsp;victim , protest were seen in Srinagar lal chowk of lawyers, civil society, Kashmir economic alliance, Kashmir university students threatened to go for hunger strike if justice was not delivered, where the main opposition party national conference said that the case should be transferred to some other court for free and fair investigation.

Victim's Bakarwal community was also suspected of cow slaughter, says the police report

The investigations in the gangrape and murder of Kathua girl have shown that the motive of the crime was to drive away Bakarwal community from the area. The key accused Sanji Ram, a retired revenue official was against the settlement of Bakarwals in Rasana Kootah, and Dhamyal area of Kathua district. The police investigation also mentions that apart from other things suspicion of cow slaughter was one of the reasons for the hatred towards victim’s community. “During investigation, it transpired that a particular community had a general impression that the Bakarwals indulge in cow slaughter and drug trafficking”, says the 18-page charge sheet filed by the police in the court. As per the details that are emerging out from the investigations Sanji Ram always kept on motivating the members of his community of the area not to provide land for grazing or any other kind of assistance. Sometime back one Harnam Singh had sold land to one Bakarwal and Sanji Ram had started accompanying against said Harnam Singh. “He also utilized the services of Ex-sarpanch of Kootah and Rasana area against said Harnam Singh and managed to stop the payment on account of installation of telephone towers in his land through the concerned tehsildar on the plea that the land in question was a state land. Ultimately Harnam Singh approached the Hon’ble High court and got the impugned order of Tehsildar quashed”, details the chargesheet. The police report details several incidents in past where Sanji Ram had been seen conspiring against the Bakarwal community. Head Constable Tilak and SPO Deepak Khajuria were also against the settlement of Bakarwals in Rasana, Kootah and Dhamyal area who had already discussed this issue with Sanji Ram to Chalk out a strategy for dislodging the Bakarwals from the area. “They were blaming the Bakarwals on one pretext or the other and used to threaten them”, mentions the police report The investigators have been able to establish that the accused had reasons to act against the Bakarwal Community. “The conspiracy ultimately resulted in the gruesome rape and brutal murder of an innocent child of only 8 years of age, who being a small kid became a soft target”, says the chargesheet. As per the investigations, the girl was kidnapped on 10th of January, drugged and kept in the temple (Devi Sathan) which was managed by Sanji Ram. For days she was repeatedly drugged and gang-raped. On the day when she was finally killed the accused gangraped her one more time and then strangulated her. They also hit her with a stone to ensure she had died. Jammu Bar Association including Kathua Bar association and Kathua Hindu Ekta morcha had objected the Crime Branch investigation and are asking for CBI enquiry, a couple of top leaders who are serving ministers in collation government of state backed the bar and morcha and approached to chief minister with a demand that case should be given to CBI, but chief minister rejected the demand. Bar continued their agitation and crime branch was stopped to produce the challan in Kathua CJM court but after 5 hours of wait, crime branch managed to produce the challan of the case against 7 persons arrested in the case who are alleged have done this crime. soon bar called for a shutdown for 11th April in Jammu, but state BJP unit and chamber of commerce Jammu had distanced themselves from the shutdown call. On the other hand in Kashmir protesters were seen demanding justice for victim , protest were seen in Srinagar lal chowk of lawyers, civil society, Kashmir economic alliance, Kashmir university students threatened to go for hunger strike if justice was not delivered, where the main opposition party national conference said that the case should be transferred to some other court for free and fair investigation.

Jammu child gang rape: Motive was to drive victim's community out of area, says charge sheet

It's a season of kitschy symbolism in Bollywood with celebrities after celebrities posting pictures with placards that say "I am ashamed", and demanding justice for an eight-year-old girl who was gangraped and murdered in Kathua. The wordings, style, tonality and content of the placards being the same through all the celebrities.

The trend is not limited to the Bollywood alone most of the celebrities from different walks of life have been pronouncing the arrested people as 'rapists' and the temple as the 'scene of crime'. Adding the prefix "alleged" or using the word "suspect" has gone out of fashion in the new secular consciousness.

The purpose of the above act of the Bollywood celebrities is noble and the symbolism isn't lost on anyone. Yet, the choice of words and the absence of sensibilities are appalling. It betrays not only a lack of research on the subject but also a fanatic avidity to pass judgement on blinkered notions. This is bigotry of another kind where a hearsay verdict is to be hurriedly delivered on the basis of one-sided accounts. No counter view is to be honoured even for the sake of balance, let alone for the sake of justice.

It's important to find out who's behind this orchestrated campaign that passes judgement on a place of worship even without a trial, and defames it without any consideration of the basic principles of natural justice.

Let's try to understand the complex social-demographic reality of Kathua, which goes to explain the contextuality of the episode and its fallout.

Kathua - or for that matter, whole of Jammu, Udhampur, Samba etc - has become an unfortunate battleground of a desperate social and demographic strife where constant grabbing (and also, purchasing) of forest lands by the Gujjar-Bakherwal settlers and the state government's alleged support to it, has created a deep suspicion in the minds of the locals who believe that the government is trying to change the demographic character of the region.

This, together with illegal presence of thousands of Rohingyas in Jammu region, is a thorn in the flesh of the psyche of the local people. And the fact that these Rohingyas have Aadhaar and ration cards raises questions on the role of local government.

Further, the Rohingyas are believed to have close ties with ISI. But no one knows how many of these settlers are having direct linkages with the ISI. It's a well-known fact that ISI is constantly evolving ideas to create disturbances in the Jammu region. Investigating agencies probing the recent attack on an Army camp in Sunjuwan are looking at the local support angle and the presence of Rohingya camps nearby might come under the scanner.

In the given scenario, the apprehension that ISI may be playing on this communal tension in the region by hatching a plot to get the girl killed and planting it on a temple, needs to be ruled out. It is apprehended by many local residents that the Rohingya may come as a handy tool to be used for such acts. Various reports have appeared in the media that have confirmed the presence of Rohingyas in the village where the girl was killed. Hence, it's important to allay the fears of the local people by getting to the bottom of the controversy through a fair inquiry.

Further, the circumstantial evidences of the murder create suspicion in the J&K government's chargesheet, which has been prepared by a SIT drawing police officials with dubious records. Using a temple for such a heinous act, and that too by an old man in mid-sixties, and that again for seven days - all create ample suspicions. The locals say that the 'Devisthaan' is a prayer hall with no locking facility and hence it is pretty impossible to keep somebody locked and sedated for seven days in the temple, which was regularly being visited by the devotees all throughout the period due to the festival of Makar Sankranti at the time of the alleged incident.

None of us, including the Bollywood celebrities, know what's the reality. Then what's the hurry to jump the gun and to declare somebody a culprit and drag a temple in the act even without a trial? Hasn't the Bollywood erred in pronouncing the Devisthaan to be a scene of crime even without an investigation? Wouldn't it be a good idea to be patient in passing a verdict until the matter was investigated in a free, fair and impartial manner?

Even more atrocious is the attempt to portray the local Kathua demonstrators as rape apologists. They're not. They're equally horrified by the crime. They're saying the same thing that the celebrities are saying - hold a fair investigation, a fair trial and give harshest possible punishment to the culprits, and for that, a CBI enquiry is needed to find out who the culprits really are. This is indeed required because the J&K Police, like the state police elsewhere, is known for its pliability, inefficiency and corruption.

Chances maybe that the persons arrested are the real culprits. But isn't it wise to give them a fair chance before hanging?

We know how state police conducts investigations and invent 'criminals' - remember Ryan International case of Gurgaon, how the bus driver was declared accused and how people were baying for his blood. However, a CBI inquiry proved him innocent. Thus, baying for the blood of the accused ones on the basis of the local police chargesheet, is nothing but a blunder in view of various counter evidences being floated.

The SIT made indiscriminate arrests of locals and subjected them to various forms of torture. People of the village in Kathua have never had such a harrowing experience ever in the past and are terrified. Many have left their village fearing even more trouble. These people are peaceful communities that hold their temples very precious. But, already their sense of pride is under attack.

Thus, asking for a CBI investigation by the Kathua demonstrators is nowhere an atrocious demand. It's rather the most appropriate act in the given circumstance. Maybe, for the first time ever, I have seen anyone asking for a CBI inquiry and being castigated for it. If Unnao rape case can be handed over to the CBI, why can't the Kathua case go to the same agency, especially when so many doubts have been raised on the composition and intention of the SIT?

Hence, for the Bollywood celebrities, the symbolism wouldn't have lost if they hadn't passed judgment on the 'Devisthaan' that demeaned it and, instead, had asked for a CBI inquiry to clear the air once for all.

I'm an Indian and I want justice for the girl through a CBI enquiry. What about you?

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Kathua - or for that matter, whole of Jammu, Udhampur, Samba etc - has become an unfortunate battleground of a desperate social and demographic strife.

It's a season of kitschy symbolism in Bollywood with celebrities after celebrities posting pictures with placards that say "I am ashamed", and demanding justice for an eight-year-old girl who was gangraped and murdered in Kathua. The wordings, style, tonality and content of the placards being the same through all the celebrities. The trend is not limited to the Bollywood alone most of the celebrities from different walks of life have been pronouncing the arrested people as 'rapists' and the temple as the 'scene of crime'. Adding the prefix "alleged" or using the word "suspect" has gone out of fashion in the new secular consciousness. The purpose of the above act of the Bollywood celebrities is noble and the symbolism isn't lost on anyone. Yet, the choice of words and the absence of sensibilities are appalling. It betrays not only a lack of research on the subject but also a fanatic avidity to pass judgement on blinkered notions. This is bigotry of another kind where a hearsay verdict is to be hurriedly delivered on the basis of one-sided accounts. No counter view is to be honoured even for the sake of balance, let alone for the sake of justice. It's important to find out who's behind this orchestrated campaign that passes judgement on a place of worship even without a trial, and defames it without any consideration of the basic principles of natural justice. Let's try to understand the complex social-demographic reality of Kathua, which goes to explain the contextuality of the episode and its fallout. Kathua - or for that matter, whole of Jammu, Udhampur, Samba etc - has become an unfortunate battleground of a desperate social and demographic strife where constant grabbing (and also, purchasing) of forest lands by the Gujjar-Bakherwal settlers and the state government's alleged support to it, has created a deep suspicion in the minds of the locals who believe that the government is trying to change the demographic character of the region. This, together with illegal presence of thousands of Rohingyas in Jammu region, is a thorn in the flesh of the psyche of the local people. And the fact that these Rohingyas have Aadhaar and ration cards raises questions on the role of local government. Further, the Rohingyas are believed to have close ties with ISI. But no one knows how many of these settlers are having direct linkages with the ISI. It's a well-known fact that ISI is constantly evolving ideas to create disturbances in the Jammu region. Investigating agencies probing the recent attack on an Army camp in Sunjuwan are looking at the local support angle and the presence of Rohingya camps nearby might come under the scanner. In the given scenario, the apprehension that ISI may be playing on this communal tension in the region by hatching a plot to get the girl killed and planting it on a temple, needs to be ruled out. It is apprehended by many local residents that the Rohingya may come as a handy tool to be used for such acts. Various reports have appeared in the media that have confirmed the presence of Rohingyas in the village where the girl was killed. Hence, it's important to allay the fears of the local people by getting to the bottom of the controversy through a fair inquiry. Further, the circumstantial evidences of the murder create suspicion in the J&K government's chargesheet, which has been prepared by a SIT drawing police officials with dubious records. Using a temple for such a heinous act, and that too by an old man in mid-sixties, and that again for seven days - all create ample suspicions. The locals say that the 'Devisthaan' is a prayer hall with no locking facility and hence it is pretty impossible to keep somebody locked and sedated for seven days in the temple, which was regularly being visited by the devotees all throughout the period due to the festival of Makar Sankranti at the time of the alleged incident. None of us, including the Bollywood celebrities, know what's the reality. Then what's the hurry to jump the gun and to declare somebody a culprit and drag a temple in the act even without a trial? Hasn't the Bollywood erred in pronouncing the Devisthaan to be a scene of crime even without an investigation? Wouldn't it be a good idea to be patient in passing a verdict until the matter was investigated in a free, fair and impartial manner? Even more atrocious is the attempt to portray the local Kathua demonstrators as rape apologists. They're not. They're equally horrified by the crime. They're saying the same thing that the celebrities are saying - hold a fair investigation, a fair trial and give harshest possible punishment to the culprits, and for that, a CBI enquiry is needed to find out who the culprits really are. This is indeed required because the J&K Police, like the state police elsewhere, is known for its pliability, inefficiency and corruption. Chances maybe that the persons arrested are the real culprits. But isn't it wise to give them a fair chance before hanging? We know how state police conducts investigations and invent 'criminals' - remember Ryan International case of Gurgaon, how the bus driver was declared accused and how people were baying for his blood. However, a CBI inquiry proved him innocent. Thus, baying for the blood of the accused ones on the basis of the local police chargesheet, is nothing but a blunder in view of various counter evidences being floated. The SIT made indiscriminate arrests of locals and subjected them to various forms of torture. People of the village in Kathua have never had such a harrowing experience ever in the past and are terrified. Many have left their village fearing even more trouble. These people are peaceful communities that hold their temples very precious. But, already their sense of pride is under attack. Thus, asking for a CBI investigation by the Kathua demonstrators is nowhere an atrocious demand. It's rather the most appropriate act in the given circumstance. Maybe, for the first time ever, I have seen anyone asking for a CBI inquiry and being castigated for it. If Unnao rape case can be handed over to the CBI, why can't the Kathua case go to the same agency, especially when so many doubts have been raised on the composition and intention of the SIT? Hence, for the Bollywood celebrities, the symbolism wouldn't have lost if they hadn't passed judgment on the 'Devisthaan' that demeaned it and, instead, had asked for a CBI inquiry to clear the air once for all. I'm an Indian and I want justice for the girl through a CBI enquiry. What about you? (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: The Kathua case and Bollywood's pernicious symbolism

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/our-darkest-hour-response-of-government-inadequate-49-former-bureaucrats-write-to-pm-modi-after-kathua-unnao-gang-rapes-130680">'Our darkest hour... </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/our-darkest-hour-response-of-government-inadequate-49-former-bureaucrats-write-to-pm-modi-after-kathua-unnao-gang-rapes-130680">response</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/our-darkest-hour-response-of-government-inadequate-49-former-bureaucrats-write-to-pm-modi-after-kathua-unnao-gang-rapes-130680"> of govt inadequate,' 49 ex-bureaucrats write to PM Modi after Kathua, Unnao</a>

Forty-nine former bureaucrats have written a scathing open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Kathua and Unnao gang rapes. "In post-independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble," the bureaucrats write in their letter.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/andhra-special-status-call-for-statewide-bandh-today-130688">Andhra special status: Call for statewide bandh today</a>

Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti on Monday observed a one-day statewide bandh over the demand of Special Status for the state. Opposition parties such as &nbsp;Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Congress and Left parties have extended support to the strike.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/iits-to-add-779-more-seats-exclusively-for-women-applicants-130683">To improve gender imbalance, IITs to add 779 more seats exclusively for women</a>

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will add 779 more seats exclusively for women applicants in the new academic session this year. Sayantani Saha, a student from IIT Kharagpur told ANI that the decision by the institutes will help in improving the problem of gender imbalance in the IITs.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-win-epl-start-of-a-dynasty-130675">Manchester City </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-win-epl-start-of-a-dynasty-130675">win</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-win-epl-start-of-a-dynasty-130675"> EPL. Start of a dynasty?</a>

By winning their third title in seven seasons since first being backed by the petro-dollars of Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour, Manchester City can justifiably claim to be the outstanding Premier League club of the current decade.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-preparing-new-sanctions-on-russia-over-syria-says-haley-130693">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-preparing-new-sanctions-on-russia-over-syria-says-haley-130693"> preparing new sanctions on Russia over </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-preparing-new-sanctions-on-russia-over-syria-says-haley-130693">Syria,</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-preparing-new-sanctions-on-russia-over-syria-says-haley-130693"> says Haley</a>

The United States is preparing new sanctions on Russia over its continued support of Syrian President Bashar-al Assad, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said Sunday.

'Our darkest hour... response of govt inadequate,' 49 ex-bureaucrats write to PM Modi after Kathua, Unnao Forty-nine former bureaucrats have written a scathing open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Kathua and Unnao gang rapes. "In post-independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble," the bureaucrats write in their letter. Andhra special status: Call for statewide bandh today Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti on Monday observed a one-day statewide bandh over the demand of Special Status for the state. Opposition parties such as Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Congress and Left parties have extended support to the strike. To improve gender imbalance, IITs to add 779 more seats exclusively for women The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will add 779 more seats exclusively for women applicants in the new academic session this year. Sayantani Saha, a student from IIT Kharagpur told ANI that the decision by the institutes will help in improving the problem of gender imbalance in the IITs. Manchester City win EPL. Start of a dynasty? By winning their third title in seven seasons since first being backed by the petro-dollars of Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour, Manchester City can justifiably claim to be the outstanding Premier League club of the current decade. US preparing new sanctions on Russia over Syria, says Haley The United States is preparing new sanctions on Russia over its continued support of Syrian President Bashar-al Assad, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said Sunday.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The father of the eight-year-old&nbsp;child who was brutally raped and killed in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir has demanded a death penalty for the culprits.

Expressing a fear for his life he also said that there was a need&nbsp;for having security.

He said " We want justice, the culprits should be hanged. We feel the need for having security as anything can happen".

The mother of the victim also demanded a justice for her daughter's horrific rape and death.&nbsp;

The father of the child had also filed a petition in the Supreme Court today seeking a transfer of the case to Chandigarh.

The request for the transfer of the case came after the victim's lawyer claimed that the circumstances in the state would not allow for a fair trial.

Following this, the apex court issued a notice to the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Supreme Court also directed the J&K government to provide police protection to victim's family members and the counsel representing them.

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Father of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kathua?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kathua</a> rape victim says, 'We want justice, the culprits should be hanged. We feel the need for having security as anything can happen.' Mother says, 'We just want justice for my daughter.' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/TR9i39smm7">pic.twitter.com/TR9i39smm7</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/985852208276213762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Expressing a fear for his life he also said that there was a need for having security

The father of the eight-year-old child who was brutally raped and killed in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir has demanded a death penalty for the culprits. Expressing a fear for his life he also said that there was a need for having security. He said " We want justice, the culprits should be hanged. We feel the need for having security as anything can happen". The mother of the victim also demanded a justice for her daughter's horrific rape and death. The father of the child had also filed a petition in the Supreme Court today seeking a transfer of the case to Chandigarh. The request for the transfer of the case came after the victim's lawyer claimed that the circumstances in the state would not allow for a fair trial. Following this, the apex court issued a notice to the Jammu and Kashmir government. Supreme Court also directed the J&K government to provide police protection to victim's family members and the counsel representing them. Father of #Kathua rape victim says, 'We want justice, the culprits should be hanged. We feel the need for having security as anything can happen.' Mother says, 'We just want justice for my daughter.' #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/TR9i39smm7 — ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2018 ×

Kathua rape victim's father demands death penalty for culprits

The Supreme <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trial-in-kathua-gang-rape-case-begins-130724">Court today issued a notice to</a> the Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) government on a petition filed by Kathua rape victim's father seeking transfer of the case to Chandigarh.

The victim's lawyer Indira Jaysingh said circumstances in J&K&nbsp;do not allow for a fair trial, therefore the case should be transferred out of the state.&nbsp;

Jaysingh said: "The atmosphere is not conducive for a fair trial. It is highly polarised."

Supreme Court also directed the J&K government to provide police protection to victim's family members and the counsel representing them.

Indira Jaising told the Supreme Court that the state police had done a good job and arrested all the accused persons on&nbsp;scientific&nbsp;evidence.

The next hearing on of the case is slated on April 27.

Meanwhile, the eight accused who allegedly gang raped the 8-year-old girl pleaded "not guilty"&nbsp;before the court today.

The defence said the accused were ready to undergo a narco test.&nbsp;

While seven accused were presented before the district and sessions judge, the eighth is a juvenile who moved a bail application before a judicial magistrate.&nbsp;

The alleged gangrape and murder of the girl, who belonged to the nomadic Muslim community, took place in the Kathua district in January. After being missing for a week, her body was found on January 17.&nbsp;

The incident has touched off a national debate in the country with several people from civil society including those in government, media and film personalities condemning the gangrape and killing of the 8-year-old who belonged to a nomadic Muslim community. 
&nbsp;

The defence said the accused were ready to undergo a narco test.

The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) government on a petition filed by Kathua rape victim's father seeking transfer of the case to Chandigarh. The victim's lawyer Indira Jaysingh said circumstances in J&K do not allow for a fair trial, therefore the case should be transferred out of the state. Jaysingh said: "The atmosphere is not conducive for a fair trial. It is highly polarised." Supreme Court also directed the J&K government to provide police protection to victim's family members and the counsel representing them. Indira Jaising told the Supreme Court that the state police had done a good job and arrested all the accused persons on scientific evidence. The next hearing on of the case is slated on April 27. Meanwhile, the eight accused who allegedly gang raped the 8-year-old girl pleaded "not guilty" before the court today. The defence said the accused were ready to undergo a narco test. While seven accused were presented before the district and sessions judge, the eighth is a juvenile who moved a bail application before a judicial magistrate. The alleged gangrape and murder of the girl, who belonged to the nomadic Muslim community, took place in the Kathua district in January. After being missing for a week, her body was found on January 17. The incident has touched off a national debate in the country with several people from civil society including those in government, media and film personalities condemning the gangrape and killing of the 8-year-old who belonged to a nomadic Muslim community.

Kathua gang rape: Victim's father seeks transfer of case from J&K

The counsel of the Kathua rape victim's family,&nbsp;Deepika S Rajawat, has said that her life was in danger and she would approach the Supreme Court on Monday.

Expressing the&nbsp;fear of getting raped or killed, the&nbsp;counsel said&nbsp;that&nbsp;she&nbsp;does not know&nbsp;how&nbsp;long was she&nbsp;going to live.

She also added that she was threatened on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She said " I don't know till when I will be alive. I can be raped, my modesty can be outraged, I can be killed, I can be damaged. I was threatened&nbsp;yesterday that ' we will not forgive you". I am going to tell Supreme Court tomorrow that I am in danger".

The trial in the horrific rape case of the eight-year-old child will begin on Monday.&nbsp;

An eight-year-old was gang-raped and murdered&nbsp;in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua.

The culprits drugged her and held her in captive in a small temple for several days before brutally killing her with a rock.

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I don't know till when I will be alive. I can be raped, my modesty can be outraged, I can be killed, I can be damaged. I was threatened yesterday that 'we will not forgive you'. I am going to tell SC tomorrow that I am in danger: Deepika S Rajawat, Counsel, Kathua victim's family <a href="https://t.co/khXFELUqZe">pic.twitter.com/khXFELUqZe</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/985545570407337985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

'I can be raped, my modesty can be outraged, I can be killed, I can be damaged. I was threatened yesterday that 'we will not forgive you,' Deepika S Rajawat said

The counsel of the Kathua rape victim's family, Deepika S Rajawat, has said that her life was in danger and she would approach the Supreme Court on Monday. Expressing the fear of getting raped or killed, the counsel said that she does not know how long was she going to live. She also added that she was threatened on Saturday. She said " I don't know till when I will be alive. I can be raped, my modesty can be outraged, I can be killed, I can be damaged. I was threatened yesterday that ' we will not forgive you". I am going to tell Supreme Court tomorrow that I am in danger". The trial in the horrific rape case of the eight-year-old child will begin on Monday. An eight-year-old was gang-raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua. The culprits drugged her and held her in captive in a small temple for several days before brutally killing her with a rock. I don't know till when I will be alive. I can be raped, my modesty can be outraged, I can be killed, I can be damaged. I was threatened yesterday that 'we will not forgive you'. I am going to tell SC tomorrow that I am in danger: Deepika S Rajawat, Counsel, Kathua victim's family pic.twitter.com/khXFELUqZe — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2018 ×

Don't know till when I will be alive: Kathua victim's family's lawyer

The Bar Association Kathua (BAK) on Sunday withdrew its offer to contest without charge the case of the eight people accused in the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old Muslim girl in the district.

The BAK's decision comes a day after the Supreme Court took a serious note of lawyers obstructing the judicial process and initiated a case on its own accord saying such impeding of the process of law "affects the delivery of justice".

The top court said that lawyers' bodies have a solemn duty to not obstruct advocates representing the accused or the victims' family in courts.

"We have withdrawn our offer to contest the case free of cost. Accused are free to engage any individual advocate and exercise their respective rights of defence in the court. It is for any individual advocate to accept the brief and the bar association will not come in the way of defence nor will hamper the prosecution," BAK president Kirty Bhushan Mahajan said.

Mahajan said after going through the charge sheet presented by the Crime Branch, it is revealed that the allegations against the accused persons are very grave and this case is to be dealt with in a professional way.

Claiming that the association members never obstructed the Crime Branch from filing the charge sheet against the accused, he announced an end to the agitation in support of the demand for a CBI probe but said the same probe would be made in legal manner before the court as per applicable law.

"The CBI investigation was demanded to find out and bring on surface as to who actually had started playing communal card during the entire period of time. We want justice to the poor departed soul whereas it is evident that the fringe elements are making it communal under an agenda," he said.

However, the bar will explore the legal option for CBI probe so that the real culprits (may be they are the same as mentioned in charge sheet of crime branch) are punished with the capital punishment and nothing less than that.

Distancing the association with the Hindu Ekta Manch, he said the bar has no "direct or indirect association" with the self-styled Manch.

The Kathua Bar Association's (BAK) decision comes a day after the Supreme Court took a serious note of lawyers obstructing the judicial process and initiated a case on its own accord saying such impeding of the process of law "affects the delivery of justice".

The Bar Association Kathua (BAK) on Sunday withdrew its offer to contest without charge the case of the eight people accused in the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old Muslim girl in the district. The BAK's decision comes a day after the Supreme Court took a serious note of lawyers obstructing the judicial process and initiated a case on its own accord saying such impeding of the process of law "affects the delivery of justice". The top court said that lawyers' bodies have a solemn duty to not obstruct advocates representing the accused or the victims' family in courts. "We have withdrawn our offer to contest the case free of cost. Accused are free to engage any individual advocate and exercise their respective rights of defence in the court. It is for any individual advocate to accept the brief and the bar association will not come in the way of defence nor will hamper the prosecution," BAK president Kirty Bhushan Mahajan said. Mahajan said after going through the charge sheet presented by the Crime Branch, it is revealed that the allegations against the accused persons are very grave and this case is to be dealt with in a professional way. Claiming that the association members never obstructed the Crime Branch from filing the charge sheet against the accused, he announced an end to the agitation in support of the demand for a CBI probe but said the same probe would be made in legal manner before the court as per applicable law. "The CBI investigation was demanded to find out and bring on surface as to who actually had started playing communal card during the entire period of time. We want justice to the poor departed soul whereas it is evident that the fringe elements are making it communal under an agenda," he said. However, the bar will explore the legal option for CBI probe so that the real culprits (may be they are the same as mentioned in charge sheet of crime branch) are punished with the capital punishment and nothing less than that. Distancing the association with the Hindu Ekta Manch, he said the bar has no "direct or indirect association" with the self-styled Manch.

Kathua Bar Association withdraws offer to contest rape accused's case for free

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Sunday asked the Bar Association of Jammu (BAJ) to call off its strike.

It further announced that it will constitute a five-member team to probe the conduct of the association in the Kathua rape and murder case.

The team will visit Kathua and Jammu and will talk to people about the conduct of Bar Association.

The committee will submit the report to the Bar Council which will further submit the report to Supreme Court on April 19.

The chairman of the Bar Council of India also said that "If any lawyer is found guilty in the case, we have the rights to cancel their license for a lifetime".

An FIR was registered against the lawyers who had tried to block the filing of a charge sheet by the Crime Branch against the people involved in&nbsp;Kathua rape case.

&nbsp;

The chairman of the Bar Council of India also said that 'If any lawyer is found guilty in the case, we have the rights to cancel their license for a lifetime'

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Sunday asked the Bar Association of Jammu (BAJ) to call off its strike. It further announced that it will constitute a five-member team to probe the conduct of the association in the Kathua rape and murder case. The team will visit Kathua and Jammu and will talk to people about the conduct of Bar Association. The committee will submit the report to the Bar Council which will further submit the report to Supreme Court on April 19. The chairman of the Bar Council of India also said that "If any lawyer is found guilty in the case, we have the rights to cancel their license for a lifetime". An FIR was registered against the lawyers who had tried to block the filing of a charge sheet by the Crime Branch against the people involved in Kathua rape case.

Kathua gang rape: Bar Council of India to probe Jammu lawyers' conduct

The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has accepted&nbsp;the resignation of BJP state ministers Chander Prakash Ganga and Lal&nbsp;Singh.&nbsp;

The two ministers&nbsp;Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga resigned from the party on Friday over massive outrage that emerged following their participation in a rally that was organised in support of the accused in Kathua gang rape and murder.

The resignations were submitted by BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday.&nbsp;

Ram Madhav also admitted that the two ministers showed a lack of discretion by participating in the rally.&nbsp;However, he added that the accusation&nbsp;put up by the opposition that the two ministers were pro rapist is "absolutely wrong".

According to senior BJP leader Ram Madhav, the resignation of the ministers was to address the fears of not only its ally PDP and the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also the entire nation.

Mehbooba Mufti has forwarded the resignation of the two ministers to the state Governor.

&nbsp;

The two ministers, Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga, resigned from the party on Friday following massive over their participation in a rally organised in support of the Kathua gang rape and murder accused

The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has accepted the resignation of BJP state ministers Chander Prakash Ganga and Lal Singh. The two ministers Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga resigned from the party on Friday over massive outrage that emerged following their participation in a rally that was organised in support of the accused in Kathua gang rape and murder. The resignations were submitted by BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday. Ram Madhav also admitted that the two ministers showed a lack of discretion by participating in the rally. However, he added that the accusation put up by the opposition that the two ministers were pro rapist is "absolutely wrong". According to senior BJP leader Ram Madhav, the resignation of the ministers was to address the fears of not only its ally PDP and the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also the entire nation. Mehbooba Mufti has forwarded the resignation of the two ministers to the state Governor.

Kathua gang rape: J&K CM Mufti accepts resignations of 2 BJP ministers

People's Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar has hinted on introducing a new law in Jammu and Kashmir for punishing rape convicts of minors.

He said that the new law will give a death penalty to the people who rape minors.

He said " I want justice for the eight-year-old at the earliest. This government will soon bring a law in the state under which people who rape minors will be given death penalty. Entire nation has come with her."

Also read: <a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/maneka-gandhi-proposes-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-below-12-years-130267">Maneka Gandhi proposes </a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/maneka-gandhi-proposes-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-below-12-years-130267">death</a><a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/maneka-gandhi-proposes-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-below-12-years-130267"> penalty for rape of children below 12 years</a>

The PDP minister's proposal has come in the wake of the brutal rape and murder of the eight-year-old in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

The eight-year-old was allegedly&nbsp;gang-raped by a group of men who held her in captive in a small temple&nbsp;for several days. The accused drugged her and repeatedly gang-raped&nbsp;her for days before finally killing&nbsp;her with a rock.

A day before&nbsp;Union minister Maneka Gandhi also proposed of introducing a&nbsp;death penalty for children before the age of 12 years.&nbsp;

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I want justice for the 8-year-old at the earliest. This govt will soon bring a law in the state under which people who rape minors will be given death penalty. Entire nation has come with her: Naeem Akhtar, PDP on Kathua rape case <a href="https://t.co/1awn8jIgVL">pic.twitter.com/1awn8jIgVL</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/985138879891169281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said 'I want justice for the eight-year-old at the earliest. This government will soon bring a law in the state under which people who rape minors will be given death penalty. Entire nation has come with her'

People's Democratic Party leader Naeem Akhtar has hinted on introducing a new law in Jammu and Kashmir for punishing rape convicts of minors. He said that the new law will give a death penalty to the people who rape minors. He said " I want justice for the eight-year-old at the earliest. This government will soon bring a law in the state under which people who rape minors will be given death penalty. Entire nation has come with her." Also read: Maneka Gandhi proposes death penalty for rape of children below 12 years The PDP minister's proposal has come in the wake of the brutal rape and murder of the eight-year-old in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. The eight-year-old was allegedly gang-raped by a group of men who held her in captive in a small temple for several days. The accused drugged her and repeatedly gang-raped her for days before finally killing her with a rock. A day before Union minister Maneka Gandhi also proposed of introducing a death penalty for children before the age of 12 years. I want justice for the 8-year-old at the earliest. This govt will soon bring a law in the state under which people who rape minors will be given death penalty. Entire nation has come with her: Naeem Akhtar, PDP on Kathua rape case pic.twitter.com/1awn8jIgVL — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2018 ×

J&K to bring law punishing rapists of minors with death: PDP minister

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