Kathua Gangrape Case: Villagers from Budhi, Barnoti Take Out Protest March, Demand CBI Probe

Villagers from Budhi, Barnoti, Nanan and Thanon villages took out a protest march yesterday in Kathua district's Budhi village demanding Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the murder and rape of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu's Kathua.

New Delhi, April 30: Villagers from Budhi, Barnoti, Nanan and Thanon villages took out a protest march yesterday in Kathua district’s Budhi village demanding Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the murder and rape of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu’s Kathua. There has been a growing demand from all corners of the society including leaders from many political parties like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and Panthers Party demanding a CBI probe to ensure speedy justice to the victim.

Earlier this month, villagers from Rasana village sat on a hunger strike demanding a CBI probe into the horrific case, in which an eight-year-old girl was kidnapped, drugged, gangraped and then murdered.

Kathua: Villagers from Budhi, Barnoti, Nanan, Thanoon villages and others took out a protest march yesterday in Budhi village demanding CBI probe into #Kathua rape case. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/7fr83Ys5aM

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2018

The incident took place on January 10,when the eight-year-old girl belonging to Bakarwal community was kidnapped while she was grazing her horses closer to her home. The girl was kidnapped and kept in a temple managed by the mastermind of the case Sanji Ram. Four days later, that is, on January 14, she was strangulated to death. At least eight people have been accused of raping and killing the eight-year-old and a chargesheet has also been filed against a police sub-inspector, a head constable and two special police officers who have been found guilty of destroying the evidence in the horrific rape and murder case. According to the key accused Sanjhi Ram, who is a retired revenue official, the incident occurred so that the Bakarwal community left the Hindu dominated village. The other reason cited by him was the villagers believed that the Bakarwals indulged in cow slaughter.

With people pressurizing for a CBI probe into this incident for a speedy trial, the state government has also come out with its stand on the case. The Jammu and Kashmir government has opposed the transfer of the rape and murder trial, saying that the state had an altogether different penal code and transferring the case would only cause problems to the witnesses.