Six men have been found guilty of the gang rape and murder of an 8-year-old nomadic girl in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir last year, and one has been acquitted for lack of evidence. A special court in Pathankot announced its verdict in the gruesome rape and murder case that took place in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir in January 2018. Three of the accused have been sentenced to life imprisonment and the other three have been sentenced to five years in jail.
District and Sessions judge Pathankot, Tejwinder Singh convicted Rasana village head Sanji Ram, two special police officers Deepak Khajuria and Surender Verma, Sub Inspector Anand Dutta, and Head constable Tilak Raj in the case. While one accused, Vishal, the son of the village head, has been acquitted for lack of evidence. The six accused have been held guilty under different sections of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Jammu and Kashmir State Ranbir Penal Code or RPC is a criminal code applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. Sanji Ram, Deepak and Parvesh Kumar were held guilty for kidnapping, rape and murder and have been sentenced to life imprisonment. The three police officials, Anand, Tilak and Surinder, have been held guilty for destruction of evidence and have been sentenced to five years in jail.
Public outcry had followed the abduction, rape and murder of the minor girl in Rasana village of Kathua district on January 10 last year. The charge sheet had stated that the minor was kidnapped and held captive at a temple on January 10 last year, and that she was starved, drugged and raped repeatedly for several days. She was later strangulated to death and her head was bashed in with a rock.
The trial in the infamous case was conducted on a daily basis, and was completed in the fast-track trial court in Pathankot town of Punjab on June 3. Investigations by the state crime branch had led to the arrest of eight accused, including a minor. The crime branch sleuths collected forensic evidence and other bits and pieces to nail the culprits.
The outcry against the heinous crime led to strong polarisation between the then ruling partners, the PDP and the BJP which ultimately resulted in the resignation of two BJP ministers, Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga, from the state cabinet. Singh and Ganga had attended a rally in Rasana village that was held in support of the accused.
Given the highly sensitive nature of the case, the Supreme Court ordered shifting of trial from a Kathua court to the district and session judge's court in Pathankot town of neighbouring Punjab.
Police personnel were booked for trying to destroy evidence that could have led to the culprits.
The Supreme Court had ordered that the case be heard on a daily basis in camera by the trial court.
(With IANS inputs)