SC says protect Kathua victim’s family; accused plead not guilty
NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered protection to the Kathua rape victim’s family and their lawyer as it asked the Jammu and Kashmir government for its response to a plea for transferring of the trial in the case to Chandigarh.
The court’s orders came on a day eight people accused of raping and killing the eight-year-old girl in Jammu pleaded not guilty on the first day of trial in a Kathua court and asked for a narco test to be conducted on them.
The child, who belonged to a Muslim nomadic community, was allegedly held in captivity in a village temple for a week in January and raped before being bludgeoned to death.
While seven accused were presented before the district and sessions judge, the eighth, a juvenile, moved a bail application before a judicial magistrate.
In Delhi, the apex court directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to strengthen security at the juvenile home where the minor has been lodged.
The victim’s father alleged the minor was being visited by politicians at the juvenile home.
Apart from ordering protection for the eight-year-old’s family and their lawyer, Deepika Singh Rajawat, the court also asked the police to guard Talib Hussain, who is helping the victim’s family pursue the case. The police personnel will be in plain clothes, the court ordered.