Kathua rape: Failed Asifa as humans, says V.K. Singh

Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh on Thursday assured justice to an eight-year-old girl who was brutally gang raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and said "we have failed Asifa as humans".

"...But she will not be denied justice," V.K. Singh, former Chief of Army Staff, tweeted.

While the Congress has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his "silence" over the issue, V.K. Singh's tweet also received backlash from several twitterati, who questioned him of his party's stance.

"Sir how shameless you and your party workers could be? Your ministers are standing with the rapists and you are saying you would deliver justice? You are an Army officer I beg you please restore our faith in judiciary," said one user.

Another tweeted: "You have failed, unable to act in an exemplary way despite of being part of the government! Not us. You."

Eight people, including the mastermind Sanji Ram, have been charged with abduction, rape and murder of the "Bakerwal" (nomadic) minor in Kathua's Rasana village in January.

Investigations have revealed that the girl was held in a temple, drugged, repeatedly raped and finally murdered to scare the Bakerwal community out of the village.

Sanji Ram has also been charged with bribing local policemen, including a Sub-Inspector and a Head Constable, to destroy vital evidence.

On Wednesday, lawyers in Kathua staged a protest and attempted to prevent the police from filing a chargesheet in the case.

The Jammu Bar Association on Thursday reiterated its demand for a CBI probe into the case, asserting that it did not support the accused but wanted a fair probe.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti assured that law "will not be obstructed by the irresponsible actions and statements of a group of people".

--IANS

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