Outrage over rapes spills onto streets across India
Thousands in Delhi, other cities demand justice for Kathua, Unnao
NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW/SURAT: Thousands of people protested across the country on Sunday as outrage grew over the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Jammu’s Kathua and the sexual assault of a teenager in Unnao, a day after another case of the brutal rape and murder of a minor girl was reported in Surat.
Carrying banners and shouting slogans, the protesters marched in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Jammu and other cities, demanding that the government quickly prosecute those accused in the rape cases.
Candlelight vigils were also held at a few places, including Gujarat’s Surat. The city’s police said a minor was allegedly held captive, tortured and raped before being killed recently. Her body — found on April 6 — had had 86 injury marks. She is believed to have been between nine and 11 years of age.
Many protesters expressed anger at the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that its leaders in Jammu and Kashmir were initially siding with the accused in the Kathua case.
The eight-year-old girl in Kathua’s Rasana village belonged to a Muslim nomadic tribe, the Bakarwals, and the charge sheet says she was tortured and killed to scare the community away.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called the crimes against women a “shame” for the country and asserted that the guilty will not be spared.
SHIMLA: The state government will not allow criminals to roam freely in Himachal Pradesh and they should not be patronised politically, said chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on the historic Ridge in Shimla on Sunday.
The CM was speaking on the sidelines of the function held to celebrate 71st Himachal Day.
The CM said, “I would ensure no political patronage is given to the criminals during my tenure.”
Referring to the Unnao and Kathua rape incidents, Thakur said crime is crime and it should be dealt with the strictness as per the law.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress of investigations by the CBI in Kotkhai rape and murder case, the CM said the arrest of one suspect has raised hopes that the family of the victim would get justice.
“Himachal has witnessed heinous crime in the past but the government will now ensure zero tolerance towards it,” Thakur said.
Earlier, during the state-level function, the CM unfurled the National Flag and took salute from the contingent of police, 4th Battalions of IRB, home guards, NCC boys and girls.
Deputy superintendent of police Amit Thakur commanded the parade.
Highlighting some of the achievements of the government, Thakur said the government has reduced the eligibility age for social security pension which benefited around 1.30 lakh senior citizens.
He further said effective steps have been taken to deal with crimes against women and also to tackle mining, forest and drug mafias by launching “Gudiya and Hoshiyar” helplines.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Thakur presented Himachal Gaurav award along with a citation and cash reward of ₹21,000 to 21-year-old Aanchal Thakur, who made the state and country proud by winning the country’s first international skiing medal in Turkey. While, Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus was felicitated with the Civil Service award for the effective implementation of gokullu.com, a website being administered for the convenience of tourists.
Professor Vinod K Pal, Dr Randeep Gularia, Dr Om Chand Handa and Chinmaiya organisation were given the Prerana Strot award along with a citation and cash reward of ₹2.50 lakh for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields.
TRIBUTE TO NURPUR, MOSUL VICTIMS
The chief minister paid homage to those killed in the Nurpur school bus accident and also expressed grief over four Himachal men killed by IS terrorists in Iraq’s Mosul.
ADMN HONOURS TWO KIDS FOR BRAVERY
The Kangra district administration honoured the duo Ranveer Singh, 9, and Avni,10, who survived the fatal bus crash.
They were given a commendation letter for extraordinary courage shown by them despite being badly injured.
Ranveer and Avani fell out of a broken window of the bus when it began rolling down the 200-foot deep gorge.
They were able to crawl back onto the road climbing a steep slope and had informed the nearby people about the accident after which the rescue operation was launched to save others.