Page 23 - 30JUNE2019E

Justice at last in Kathua The court has sentenced three men
— Sanji Ram, Deepak Khajuria and
rape and murder case Parvesh Kumar to life imprisonment till

last breath, reports riyaz wani

ore than a year after an eight- and Bollywood celebrities. rally organized by Hindu Ekta Manch was headed
year-old girl was gangraped Even the United Nations secretary general by a BJP state secretary. Over time, the Hindu Ekta
and murdered at Kathua in Antonio Guterres had termed the gangrape and Manch garnered support from more sections of the
J&K, a court in Pathankot sen- murder a “horrific” incident and asked the au- civil society including the Jammu High Court Bar
M tenced three men — Sanji Ram, thorities to ensure justice. In major cities, some Association which organized a bandh in support of
Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar — to life really large protests had been held, the CBI probe into the crime. The BJP too adopted
imprisonment till last breath. Ram was the mas- in some cases, people even perform- an ambivalent approach towards the demand, with
termind and caretaker of the ‘devasthanam’ (tem- ing on the streets to draw attention to the some of its leaders choosing to play both ways.
ple) where the crime took place in January last crime. In fact, some videos doing rounds But the conviction and punishment to the
year, Deepak Khajuria, a Special Police Officer and online had shown some singers musically guilty has brought a fitting closure to the crime,
Parvesh Kumar, a civilian. expressing their horror. thanks to the efforts of the team of J&K Crime
The other three accused in the case–Sub In- But at the same time, sections of Branch which investigated the case. The team
spector Anand Dutta, Head Constable Tilak Raj society in Jammu rallied in support of the accused. professionally did its job unaffected by the political
and Special Police Officer Surender Verma — Soon after the crime, a massive rally was held at polarisation that marked the fallout of the crime.
have been convicted for destruction of evidence Kathua to demand the release of the accused. The Three officers — Ahfad-ul-Mujtaba, Ramesh
to cover up and sentenced to five years in jail and Kumar Jalla and Naveed Peerzada — brought out
50,000 fine each. the other three a 15-page charge sheet which nailed the truth. The
The court acquitted the seventh accused in the case charges said the eight-year-old girl was kidnapped
accused Vishal Jangotra, son of Sanji Ram. He was and raped in captivity in a small village temple af-
got the ‘benefit of doubt’, persuading court to let have been convicted ter keeping her sedated for four days. She was later
him off, according to Mubeen Farooqi, the victim’s for destruction of bludgeoned to death later, it said. The team’s work
lawyer. evidence to cover up has now been praised by PDP leader Mehbooba
The judgement has been welcomed across the and sentenced to five Mufti who was Chief Minister at the time.
country. The ghastly crime had shaken the coun- years in jail and `50,000 “Relieved about Kathua verdict. Credit goes to
try last year and triggered countrywide protests in Crime Branch team led by IG Mujtaba, SSP Jalla, ad-
support of Justice for the victim. The people all over fine each. the seventh ditional SP Naveed and DSP Shetambari, Deepika
India had protested the crime, including cricketing accused is acquitted S Rajawat and Talib for ensuring facts come to light
despite hindrances,” Mehbooba Mufti tweeted
soon after the court sentenced the guilty.
And with the court issuing the verdict, the
politicization of the case has also come to an end.
What has also helped the matters is that the de-
cision has followed the end of general election.
Away in the mountains herding their livestock,
the parents of the eight-year-old girl are happy
about the judgement - albeit, not satisfied about
the quantum of the punishment. “It is good that
the guilty have been punished. The justice was
long awaited,” said the victim’s father. “But I wish
they should be hanged for the crime committed
by them”.
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