As the Bakerwals make their way to the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir with their belongings, she trudges along burdened by the weight of her eight-year-old daughter's death.

"She was so beautiful and intelligent. I wanted her to be a doctor when she grew up," the mother of the girl reminisces.

The grief-stricken mother wishes for death penalty for the guilty.

"My only wish is the culprits should be hanged for the heinous crime, so that no other family has to go through it," she says.

The girl was adopted by the woman's brother and his wife in Rasana hamlet of Kathua district when she was one year old.

Still in shock, she blames herself for leaving her daughter at brother's house.

"Why was she killed? She was grazing cattle and taking care of horses. She was eight years old. Why did they kill her in such a brutal way. They should be given death sentence," she says.

The girl's father said she was at maternal uncle's home in Rasana.

"The killers should be given death penalty. We do not need a CBI probe, we have faith in investigation by the Crime Branch," he says.

Jammu has been on tenterhooks since the brutal rape and killing of the girl belonging to the nomadic Muslim Bakerwal community.

Her body was found in Rasana forest on January 17, a week after she went missing while grazing horses in the forest area.

The couple along with their two kids and cattle left their hamlet in Samba and in Round-Domail in Udhampur district as part of their annual trek to Sanasar mountainous belt.

The mother says that earlier they had good relations with Hindus and lived in harmony with them.

"But after this incident, the relations have soured and we are fearful. We only want justice for her. She was our dear child. She was beautiful and we loved her," she says.

They wanted take her back, teach her and make her a doctor, the mother said, adding that she was very intelligent.

"The prime minister had said "Beti Padavo Beti Bachavo" but how are they teaching and saving girls like this," her adoptive father asks.

"The ministers are supporting the rape accused, saying that they are innocent, but they are wrong," he says.

The biological father says the world knows that their daughter, who did not know about the difference between Hindus and Muslims, was wronged and murdered in most barbaric manner.

"The world and entire India knows it. They are supporting them. I do not say she was our only child, she was everyone's child. The incident should not be looked at through the religious lens," he said.

On January 23, the government had handed over the case to the Crime Branch of the state police which formed a special investigation team and arrested eight people including two Special Police Officers (SPOs) and a head constable.

The police have arrested eight people in the case, but the Bar Association has opposed the action, alleging targeting of minority Dogras.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The girl was adopted by the woman's brother and his wife in Rasana hamlet of Kathua district when she was one year old

As the Bakerwals make their way to the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir with their belongings, she trudges along burdened by the weight of her eight-year-old daughter's death. "She was so beautiful and intelligent. I wanted her to be a doctor when she grew up," the mother of the girl reminisces. The grief-stricken mother wishes for death penalty for the guilty. "My only wish is the culprits should be hanged for the heinous crime, so that no other family has to go through it," she says. The girl was adopted by the woman's brother and his wife in Rasana hamlet of Kathua district when she was one year old. Still in shock, she blames herself for leaving her daughter at brother's house. "Why was she killed? She was grazing cattle and taking care of horses. She was eight years old. Why did they kill her in such a brutal way. They should be given death sentence," she says. The girl's father said she was at maternal uncle's home in Rasana. "The killers should be given death penalty. We do not need a CBI probe, we have faith in investigation by the Crime Branch," he says. Jammu has been on tenterhooks since the brutal rape and killing of the girl belonging to the nomadic Muslim Bakerwal community. Her body was found in Rasana forest on January 17, a week after she went missing while grazing horses in the forest area. The couple along with their two kids and cattle left their hamlet in Samba and in Round-Domail in Udhampur district as part of their annual trek to Sanasar mountainous belt. The mother says that earlier they had good relations with Hindus and lived in harmony with them. "But after this incident, the relations have soured and we are fearful. We only want justice for her. She was our dear child. She was beautiful and we loved her," she says. They wanted take her back, teach her and make her a doctor, the mother said, adding that she was very intelligent. "The prime minister had said "Beti Padavo Beti Bachavo" but how are they teaching and saving girls like this," her adoptive father asks. "The ministers are supporting the rape accused, saying that they are innocent, but they are wrong," he says. The biological father says the world knows that their daughter, who did not know about the difference between Hindus and Muslims, was wronged and murdered in most barbaric manner. "The world and entire India knows it. They are supporting them. I do not say she was our only child, she was everyone's child. The incident should not be looked at through the religious lens," he said. On January 23, the government had handed over the case to the Crime Branch of the state police which formed a special investigation team and arrested eight people including two Special Police Officers (SPOs) and a head constable. The police have arrested eight people in the case, but the Bar Association has opposed the action, alleging targeting of minority Dogras.

Kathua child gang rape: Want to see culprits hanged, says victim's family

The resignations of two BJP ministers, who courted controversy by attending a rally supporting those accused of raping and killing a young girl in Kathua, will be handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for further action, said senior BJP leader Ram Madhav.

The senior BJP leader said 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.

Madhav, who is the party's general secretary in-charge of the state, also said that the state government was told to withdraw the directive of the tribal affairs department on encroachments by nomads in forest land.

Madhav, who attened the legislative party meeting of the state BJP MLAs and MLC, said state party president Sat Sharma will send the resignations to the chief minister.

Forest Minister Lal Singh and Industries Minister Chander Prakash Ganga tendered their resignation in view of a perception being created, he said.

He lashed out at the Congress, alleging that it was trying to politicise the issue which should not be done.

"We, including the BJP which is in the government, will ensure justice for the girl and punishment for the culprits," he said.

Asked about the demand for a CBI probe into the incident, the BJP leader said, "The police have completed the probe and now it is in the court of law. It is for the court to decide."

Ganga and Singh had hit out at the police for arresting "one or the other person at will" in connection with the rape and killing of the 8-year-old girl in January this year.

Asking why the probe was not being handed over to the CBI, Lal Singh had said, "We too want that the real accused be punished... We have heard you. We will not allow this jungle raj, under which they (police) are picking up people at will, to continue. What kind of investigation are they doing?

The 'Hindu Ekta Manch', from which the BJP distanced itself, had also taken out a rally holding a tricolour to press for their demand.

The incident and use of national flag had evoked sharp reaction from Mufti.

"Appalled by the marches and protests in defence of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their use of our national flag in these demonstrations, this is nothing short of desecration. The accused has been arrested and the law will follow its course," she tweeted.&nbsp;

The senior BJP leader said 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

The resignations of two BJP ministers, who courted controversy by attending a rally supporting those accused of raping and killing a young girl in Kathua, will be handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for further action, said senior BJP leader Ram Madhav. The senior BJP leader said 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. Madhav, who is the party's general secretary in-charge of the state, also said that the state government was told to withdraw the directive of the tribal affairs department on encroachments by nomads in forest land. Madhav, who attened the legislative party meeting of the state BJP MLAs and MLC, said state party president Sat Sharma will send the resignations to the chief minister. Forest Minister Lal Singh and Industries Minister Chander Prakash Ganga tendered their resignation in view of a perception being created, he said. He lashed out at the Congress, alleging that it was trying to politicise the issue which should not be done. "We, including the BJP which is in the government, will ensure justice for the girl and punishment for the culprits," he said. Asked about the demand for a CBI probe into the incident, the BJP leader said, "The police have completed the probe and now it is in the court of law. It is for the court to decide." Ganga and Singh had hit out at the police for arresting "one or the other person at will" in connection with the rape and killing of the 8-year-old girl in January this year. Asking why the probe was not being handed over to the CBI, Lal Singh had said, "We too want that the real accused be punished... We have heard you. We will not allow this jungle raj, under which they (police) are picking up people at will, to continue. What kind of investigation are they doing? The 'Hindu Ekta Manch', from which the BJP distanced itself, had also taken out a rally holding a tricolour to press for their demand. The incident and use of national flag had evoked sharp reaction from Mufti. "Appalled by the marches and protests in defence of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their use of our national flag in these demonstrations, this is nothing short of desecration. The accused has been arrested and the law will follow its course," she tweeted.

Resignations of BJP ministers to be handed to J&K CM Mufti: Ram Madhav

Facing flak over Kathua and Unnao rape cases, the BJP today said those accused should be given a stringent punishment and claimed that the police acted quickly in both the matters.

BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi defended the two party's ministers, who had joined a rally against the police probe in the Kathua rape and murder case, claiming that they were "misled" into attending the protest.

In a press conference, Lekhi also accused the opposition parties of doing dangerous politics&nbsp;over these incidents.

She said Bar Association of Jammu president B S Slathia, who spearheaded the protest in Kathua, was Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's polling agent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Lekhi also claimed that these two incidents were selectively highlighted to target the BJP and said that a similar case of rape and murder of a minor girl in Assam had happened, but it never got the prominence that the Kathua and Unnao cases have got.

An eight-year-old girl from the nomadic Bakerwal Muslim community disappeared near her house on January 10 in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district.

A week later, her body was found in the same area.

In the Unnao case, the victim has alleged she was raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar at his residence on June 4, 2017.

In February, the girl's family moved the court seeking to include the MLA's name in the rape case.

After filing of the case, the victim's father was booked by the police under the Arms Act on April 3 this year and put in jail, where he died on April 8.&nbsp;

In a press conference, Lekhi also accused the opposition parties of doing dangerous politics over these incidents.

Facing flak over Kathua and Unnao rape cases, the BJP today said those accused should be given a stringent punishment and claimed that the police acted quickly in both the matters. BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi defended the two party's ministers, who had joined a rally against the police probe in the Kathua rape and murder case, claiming that they were "misled" into attending the protest. In a press conference, Lekhi also accused the opposition parties of doing dangerous politics over these incidents. She said Bar Association of Jammu president B S Slathia, who spearheaded the protest in Kathua, was Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's polling agent in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Lekhi also claimed that these two incidents were selectively highlighted to target the BJP and said that a similar case of rape and murder of a minor girl in Assam had happened, but it never got the prominence that the Kathua and Unnao cases have got. An eight-year-old girl from the nomadic Bakerwal Muslim community disappeared near her house on January 10 in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. A week later, her body was found in the same area. In the Unnao case, the victim has alleged she was raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar at his residence on June 4, 2017. In February, the girl's family moved the court seeking to include the MLA's name in the rape case. After filing of the case, the victim's father was booked by the police under the Arms Act on April 3 this year and put in jail, where he died on April 8.

Give stringent punishment to perpetrators of Kathua, Unnao cases: BJP

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