Six accused in Kathua rape and murder case convicted
Chandigarh, Jun 10 (IBNS): Delivering its judgement on Monday, a court in Pathankot convicted six people who were accused of gang-raping and murdering eight-year old girl, Asifa Bano, in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir in early 2018, media reports said.
Sanji Ram, the mastermind of the heinous crime, is also among the people who have been convicted. One accused has been acquitted.
The incident had evoked huge anger across the country with people demanding justice for the victim, who was gang-raped allegedly at a temple.
Asifa belonged to the nomad Bakarwal community. She was missing and later her body was recovered by the villagers a km away from the village.
A massive controversy had broken after a few Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders had supported the accused.
The Crime Branch later had filed a charge sheet against the eight accused.
The accused were arrested and the trial began in Kathua on Apr 16, 2018.
Citing exceptional circumstances of the case, the top court had shifted the accused from Kathua jail to Gurdaspur jail.
Image Credit: UNI
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