Use of Tricolour in support of accused is desecration: J&K CM

MEHBOOBA WAS REFERRING TO THE RALLY TAKEN OUT BY THE HINDU EKTA MANCH ON THURSDAY IN JAMMU

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday condemned the use of the Tricolour in a rally by a rightwing group demanding the release of a police officer arrested in the Kathua rape-and-murder case.

She was referring to the rally taken out by the Hindu Ekta Manch on Thursday in Jammu, demanding the release of special police officer (SPO) Deepak Khajuria, who was arrested last week in connection with the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district in January.

“Appalled by the marches & protests in defense of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their (protesters’) use of our national flag in these demonstrations, this is nothing short of desecration,” Mehbooba tweeted.

The accused was under arrest and the law would follow its course, the chief minister added.

The girl’s body was recovered from the Rassana forest on January 17, a week after she went missing while grazing horses.

The issue had repeatedly rocked the state assembly with opposition parties raising questions and demanding action against the culprits.

On January 23, the Mehbooba Mufti government had ordered a probe in the kidnapping and killing of the girl and handed over the case to the crime branch of the state police.

With the arrest of the SPO, the number of arrests in the case went up to two. A special investigation team (SIT), constituted by the state police, had arrested a 15-year-old boy and claimed the accused had strangulated the victim after she resisted rape.