KATHUA RAPE AND MURDER-ENJURE JUSTICE, UN TO GOVERNMENT

KATHUA RAPE AND MURDER-ENJURE JUSTICE, UN TO GOVERNMENT

Finally breaking his silence on the rape-murder of an 8-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and the Unnao rape case in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday promised justice. "The incidents that are in discussion in the country for the last two days do not reflect good for any civilised country. This is shameful," Modi said after widespread outrage over the incidents in Kathua and Unnao. Modi's comments came hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) got into the act by detaining and questioning rape accused BJP MLA Kuldip Singh Sengar in Uttar Pradesh.

"It's an insult to freedom fighters who gave their lives for the independence of this country. We are all ashamed as a society, as a country," Modi said, speaking at the inauguration of the Ambedkar National Memorial. Right after his statement, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Dear Prime Minister, Thank you for breaking your long silence. You said 'our daughters will get justice'. India wants to know: when?" Two BJP ministers -- Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga -- who attended a rally in support of the Kathua accused last month resigned from the J&K government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. They had sparked overwhelming public outcry after attending a rally in Hiranagar area of Kathua district organised by the Hindu Ekta Munch in favour of the seven people accused in the rape and murder of the minor. In New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi admitted that the two BJP ministers in Jammu and Kashmir had committed a wrong by taking part in the rally. She, however, said they were "misled and misguided" by people and accused the Congress of communalising the rape incidents.

Here's what happened according to Kathua gang rape and murder charge sheet: The eight-year-old girl had been missing in Rasana village since January 10. On January 17, her mutilated body was found, bearing the marks of gang rape. This week, local lawyers tried to prevent the police from filing the charge sheet, and the Jammu High Court Bar Association called for a bandh on Wednesday demanding that the investigation be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The charge sheet lists as the main conspirator the caretaker of the temple in Rasana where the child was allegedly held. The girl was gang-raped repeatedly inside a village temple and kept sedated for hours before being killed by six men, including one who had been "invited" to come all the way from Meerut to "satisfy his lust", the police have told a court. The kidnapping, rape and killing of the girl of the Bakherwal community at the Rassana area of Kathua was part of a planned, chilling strategy to instil fear and drive the nomadic tribe out of the region, reveals the 15-page charge-sheet filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the chief judicial magistrate's court.

10 developments on Kathua gang-rape and murder case

1. Mehbooba to ask for fast track court in Kathua rape:Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will request state High Court Chief Justice Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar for the establishment of special fast track court for Kathua Rape case, said sources on Saturday. This special fast track court, which would be the first in the state is expected to complete the trial in ninety days. She also called for exemplary punishment for those responsible for the crime.

2. United Nations wants Modi government to take action: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Friday that he has seen reports about the "horrific case" of the abuse and murder of the nomadic Bakerwal community girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua."We very much hope that the authorities will bring the perpetrators to justice so they can be held accountable for the murder of this young girl," he said.

3. PDP calls meeting today: The PDP leadership will meet on Saturday in Srinagar to discuss the situation, a party spokesman said on Friday. "A meeting of senior party leaders is being held on Saturday and important issues relating to political, party and administration in J&K will be discussed," PDP chief spokesman Rafi Ahmed Mir said.

4. Jammu Bar Association seeks compensation for Kathua victim's family: The Jammu Bar Association on Saturday sought compensation and security for the Kathua rape and murder victim's family. Association President B S Slathia also called for a candlelight vigil here on Saturday evening to press for justice and demand exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of the heinous crime. Earlier, lawyers of the Jammu and Kathua Bar Associations tried preventing a woman lawyer from appearing for the victim's family.

5. Mehbooba Mufti lauds people for dismissing communal forces: J&K CM Mufti lauded the the people of Jammu for dismissing communal forces and their unwavering support for justice to the child who was brutally raped and murdered.

"I commend the manner in which the people of Jammu dismissed communal forces and were unwavering in their support for a little girl. "It has strengthened my belief that Jammu serves as a model of inclusiveness and together the people of J-K inspire secular unity and righteousness," Mufti said in a tweet.

6. Two BJP ministers quit in J&K: Under fire from opponents and protests from Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, BJP on Friday secured the resignations of two of its ministers -- Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga -- from the coalition government for participating in protests in favour of the accused in the Kathua gang-rape and murder case. J&K BJP chief Sat Sharma confirmed that the two ministers had put in their papers. Lal Singh was the forest minister, while Ganga held the charge of the industry and commerce departments.

7. PM Modi says criminals will not be spared: Finally breaking his silence over the Kathua and Unnao gang-rape cases, Prime Minister Modi on Friday said that criminals will not be spared.While Modi didn't actually mention the crimes in Kathua and Unnao in his speech, his comments suggested that he was referring to these incidents. "I want to assure the nation that no criminal will be spared. Justice will be done. Our daughters will get justice. And, that such happenings shake our sensibilities," the prime minister said, a day after Congress President Rahul Gandhi led a march of party workers to India Gate to protest Modi's silence on the two rape cases.

8. Ram Madhav claims Congress behind agitation in Jammu: BJP leader and party in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir Ram Madhav accused the Congress of being behind the agitations in Jammu. "We actually acted very fast, the state government and police acted swiftly. The Congress is trying to politicise the issue. I am accusing the Congress of being behind the agitations in Jammu," he said.

9. Crime branch did a good job, says DGP: Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S P Vaid on Friday said the crime branch probing the rape and murder in Kathua district 'has done a commendable job'.The DGP's remarks came a day after he said the police had no objection to a CBI probe into the case."The crime branch has done a commendable job in investigating the unfortunate rape and murder of the girl. They are very competent," Singh told reporters.The Bar Association of Jammu had on Thursday claimed that the crime branch probe was done on 'questionable lines' amid threats and coercion by a team of officers from the Kashmir Valley.

10. 'India wants to know when', tweets Rahul after Modi assurance: Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on Friday "India wants to know" when its daughters will get justice as he 'thanked' Prime Minister Modi for breaking his "long silence" on the Kathua and Unnao rape cases."Dear Prime Minister, Thank you for breaking your long silence. You said 'our daughters will get justice'. India wants to know: when?" Gandhi tweeted.

Prof.John Kurakar