Kathua Rape: BJP Minister Who Resigned Leads Protest for CBI Probe
The accused pleaded not guilty in the district and sessions court, demanding a narco test.
advertisement
BJP Minister Coudhary Lal Singh, who resigned from the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet, led protests on Monday, 30 April, demanding a CBI probe into the rape case.
Meanwhile, vaginal swab reports of the minor victim, who was brutally raped and murdered in Kathua, matched that of the accused.
Conducted by the Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory, the various tests examined 14 packets of evidence that contained vaginal swabs, blood samples of four accused, hair strands, viscera of the minor, her frock and salwar, simple clay, and blood-stained clay.
- Shridhar Patil replaced Suleman Choudhary as the Kathua SP
- Students protest across Kashmir demanding justice for Kathua victim
- SC directs the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide the victim’s family and lawyer adequate security
- The accused pleaded not guilty in the district and sessions court, demanding a narco test
Former J&K Minister Choudhary Lal Singh Leads Protests for CBI Probe
Former Jammu and Kashmir minister and BJP MLA Choudhary Lal Sigh, who resigned from the cabinet led protests demanding a CBI priobe in the rape case.
Speaking to ANI, he said:
New SP Appointed
Shridhar Patil on Saturday replaced Suleman Choudhary as the Superintendent of Police of Kathua.
Tests Nail Kathua Accused
Tests by the Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory have reportedly nailed the accused in the brutal rape and murder of the eight-year-old minor in Kathua. Vaginal swab reports of the victim has matched with that of the accused, according to an Indian Express report.
This conclusion was reached after examining 14 packets of evidence that contained vaginal swabs, blood samples of four accused, hair strands, viscera of the minor, her frock and salwar, simple clay, and blood stained clay. The samples were tested between 1 and 21 March.
Senior lab official told The Indian Express that the samples were tested positive for rape, and the DNA samples of the accused matched those collected by the J&K police.
Sources in the Delhi government home department told The Indian Express that one of the parcels they were sent had two hair strands with roots. They were seemingly found in the temple where the child was allegedly raped. The roots of the hair strands helped in DNA identification.
This development strengthens the case.
Massive Clashes in Shopian
Massive clashes erupted between students and police forces in Kashmir’s Shopian on Thursday, 19 April. Schools and colleges remained close to avoid tension in the Valley, reported News18.
The Valley has been witnessing violent clashes since yesterday with students demanding justice for the Kathua rape victim.
Didn't Support Lawyers' Protest: Jammu HC Bar Association to SC
Jammu High Court Bar Association tells SC that it did not support the lawyers ‘protest in connection with Kathua gangrape-murder case, reports news agency PTI.
No One Will Be Spared: Waheed Ur Rehman, PDP Leader
Speaking to News18, PDP leader Waheed Ur Rehman said, “There is evidence against people arrested. Strong evidence. Everything will be proven in the court of law. No one will be spared and no innocent will be punished. No political party can afford to support such heinous acts.”
12 Students Injured During Protests in Kashmir
Students from various colleges and educational institutions carried out protests across Kashmir demanding justice for the eight-year-old who was brutally raped and murdered in Kathua, reported The Indian Express.
The clashes between the students and police personnel turned violent and over a dozen students have been reportedly injured. However, a police spokesman told the Indian Express that only two protesters and two policemen were injured.
President Kovind, J&K CM Mufti Condemn Kathua Incident
Speaking at the sixth convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University in Katra, President Kovind addressed the brutal Kathua incident.
J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, speaking at the same event, also commented on the cruelty the victim had to face.
All BJP Ministers to Resign from Cabinet
The BJP on Wednesday, 18 April, asked all its nine ministers in the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet to submit their resignations to enable the party bring in new faces in the two-year-old Mehbooba Mufti Cabinet, party leaders said.
The state can have a maximum of 25 ministers, including the chief minister, out of which 14 portfolios are with the PDP and the remaining with the BJP. According to top state government sources, the reshuffle is likely to take place on 20 April.
The decision follows hectic parleys between senior BJP leader Avinash Khanna and party legislators, the sources said.
Lal Singh Takes out Rally for CBI Probe in Kathua Rape; Calls for JK CM 's Resignation
BJP leader Lal Singh, who had resigned from the state Cabinet over the Kathua rape and murder case, today led a rally in support of a CBI probe into the incident and called for the resignation of J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti for her "failure" to address the issue.
Singh and Industries Minister Chander Prakash Ganga had resigned on 13 April over their participation in an earlier rally in support of the accused in the gangrape and murder of the eight-year-old girl in Kathua district.
The former forest minister said the Chief Minister had failed to understand popular sentiment and was yet to seek a CBI probe into the brutal incident.
It is her (Mehbooba Mufti's) biggest failure. If she has wisdom and conscience, she should resign,” Singh told reporters.
“If two ministers can sacrifice their posts in the interest of peace, those who are actually responsible for creating such an atmosphere should listen to their conscience,” he said, targeting the PDP leader.
Singh also said that he would press for a CBI probe into the incident.
SC Issues Notice to J&K Govt on Plea Seeking Transfer of Case
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice asking the Jammu and Kashmir government to reply to the plea filed by the victim’s family, seeking to transfer the case to Chandigarh.
Seeking a response, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the state to provide adequate security to the victim's family, their lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat, her family and Talib Hussain – a member of local Bakarwal community – who is helping the victim's family in the case.
Senior counsel Indira Jaising, appealing for the victim's father, expressed satisfaction with the investigation and told the court that they wanted transfer of the trail so that it could be a fair one.
The court directed the next hearing of the matter on 27 April.
Accused Plead Not Guilty in Trial Court
The eight people accused of raping and killing an eight-year-old girl in Kathua pleaded not guilty and asked the district and sessions judge for a narco test.
As the trial in the case, which has become the focal point of outrage across the country, began in Jammu, District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Gupta asked the state Crime Branch to give copies of the chargesheet to the accused.
The next date of hearing is reportedly on 28 April.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)