Kathua rape: SC seeks J&K's response on transfer of trial

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Jammu and Kashmir government's response on a plea for transfering the trail of the Kathua rape and murder case to Chandigarh.

Seeking the response, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the state to provide adequate security to the victim's family, their lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat, her family and Talib Hussain -- a member of local Bakerwal community -- who is helping the victim's family in the case.

The court order came on victim father's plea seeking transfer of trial and protection.

Senior counsel Indira Jaising, appealing for the victim's father, expressed satisfaction with the investigation and told the court that they wanted transfer of the trail so that it could be a fair one.

The court directed the next hearing of the matter on April 27.

All the eight accused in the Kathua rape and murder case were earlier produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir as the trial started on Monday.

Under heightened security the eight, including Sanji Ram, the alleged mastermind of the heinous crime, were produced before CJM Kathua, A.S. Langeh, who then postponed the hearing in the matter to April 28.

--IANS

pk/qd/in/vm