Relieved: Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah welcome Kathua verdict
Srinagar, June 10 (IBNS): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah welcomed the verdict as 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.
Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: "Relieved about Kathua verdict. Credit goes to crime branch team lead by IGP Mujtaba, SSP Jala, Addl SP Naveed , Dep SP Shwetambri ,@DeepikaSRajawat & Talib for ensuring facts came to light despite hindrances. People all across too galvanised support & stood up for this child."
Relieved about Kathua verdict. Credit goes to crime branch team lead by IGP Mujtaba, SSP Jala, Addl SP Naveed , Dep SP Shwetambri ,@DeepikaSRajawat & Talib for ensuring facts came to light despite hindrances. People all across 🇮🇳 too galvanised support & stood up for this child
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 10, 2019
Omar said: "Amen to that. The guilty deserve the most severe punishment possible under law. And to those politicians who defended the accused, vilified the victim & threatened the legal system no words of condemnation are enough. #KathuaRapeCase."
Amen to that. The guilty deserve the most severe punishment possible under law. And to those politicians who defended the accused, vilified the victim & threatened the legal system no words of condemnation are enough. #KathuaRapeCase https://t.co/gL2FfRL3rJ
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 10, 2019
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.
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