[The case is being watched not just nationally, but also internationally. Among others, the UNSC Secy General (ref.: < https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hope-authorities-bring-kathua-rape-perpetrators-to-justice-un-chief/articleshow/63758900.cms>) and the IMF chief (ref.: < https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kathua-rape-case-revolting-hope-modi-pays-more-attention-to-it-lagarde/story-L9xRI3nbelgNhkQMjZeCnK.html>) have recorded their serious concerns.
The demand for withdrawal of state "security", as ordered by the Supreme Court (ref.: < https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/supreme-court-asks-jk-govt-to-provide-security-to-kathua-rape-victims-lawyer/311072>), for the family of the victim and their lawyer, coming in the wake of complicity and destruction of evidence by the local police (ref.: < https://www.news18.com/news/india/overburdened-delhi-fsl-helped-jammu-and-kashmir-sit-crack-kathua-gangrape-and-murder-case-1723447.html> and < http://www.atimes.com/article/dedicated-police-team-resisted-odds-crack-asifa-rape-case/>), public agitations by the "Hindu Ekta Manch" in favour of the accused (Ref.: < https://thewire.in/politics/hindu-ekta-manch-bjp-protest-support-spo-arrested-rape-jammu> and < https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kathua-rape-case-2-bjp-ministers-attend-rally-in-support-of-accused-1181788-2018-03-04>), denial of burial to the victim in the village, at the customary patch (ref.: < https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/too-much-hatred-asifa-buried-8-kilometres-away-from-her-village-as-locals-stop-last-rites-343540.html>), the physical obstructions to the filing of the chargesheet by the Jammu Bar Association (ref.: < https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kathua-minor-rape-murder-lawyers-stop-cops-from-filing-chargesheet/articleshow/63687244.cms> and < https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-kathua-rape-and-murder-case-supreme-court-jammu-bar-association-lawyers-protest-438297>), resort to further obstructions to the legal process by ceasing work in the court (ref.: < http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/apr/16/kathua-rape-and-murder-case-jammu-lawyers-suspend-agitation-resume-work-1802292.html>), the Jammu Bandh (ref.: < https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/protestors-take-out-rallies-during-jammu-bandh-over-kathua-rape/story-lrKn3wVQRx10UdrvCIMA0H.html>), in support of the accused and the alleged threat to the brave woman lawyer representing the victim's family (ref.: < https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/protestors-take-out-rallies-during-jammu-bandh-over-kathua-rape/story-lrKn3wVQRx10UdrvCIMA0H.html>) is profoundly disturbing and speaks for itself. Intimidation, and maybe worse, is the route to follow. That's the brazen message. One only hopes that the concerned Supreme Court bench, headed by the CJI, would take due note. 《The prime accused in the alleged rape and the murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir asked the Supreme Court on Friday to withdraw the security provided to the girl’s family and lawyer, PTI reported. In their affidavit, Sanji Ram and Vishal Jangotra claimed they were innocent and said that the provision of security was an “abuse of process of law”.》] https://scroll.in/latest/877971/kathua-case-prime-accused-ask-sc-to-withdraw-security-provided-to-victims-family-lawyer Kathua case: Prime accused ask SC to withdraw security provided to victim’s family, lawyer They demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, and claimed that the police had failed to conduct a fair inquiry. Kathua case: Prime accused ask SC to withdraw security provided to victim’s family, lawyer A file photo of a protest against crimes against children | IANS The prime accused in the alleged rape and the murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir asked the Supreme Court on Friday to withdraw the security provided to the girl’s family and lawyer, PTI reported. In their affidavit, Sanji Ram and Vishal Jangotra claimed they were innocent and said that the provision of security was an “abuse of process of law”. The accused also demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation and alleged that the Special Investigation Team had failed to conduct a “fair and effective” investigation. The girl was allegedly raped and then murdered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district in January. Her father has requested for the trial to be moved to Chandigarh, while two of the accused have urged the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the case. On Friday, the accused also opposed the request for transfer of trial. They said it would be impossible for 221 prosecution witnesses in the case to travel more than 250 kilometers for the proceedings, PTI reported. The girl was found dead on January 17, a week after she went missing in a village. The chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch said she had been held captive in a temple, drugged, allegedly raped repeatedly and then strangled. The accused lured the girl to a secluded place on the pretext of helping her find her missing horses, and then took her to the temple, the Crime Branch said. On April 26, the Supreme Court agreed to consider the plea filed by the two accused. The court said it wanted to ensure a fair trial, and asked the police to provide protection to the girl’s family and their lawyers. The court, however, warned that the trial would be shifted out of Kathua if there was the slightest doubt that it would not be fair. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
