SC orders security to Kathua rape victim's family, others

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered adequate security to the Kathua rape victim's family, their lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat and others and sought the Jammu and Kashmir government's response to a plea for transfer of the case trial to Chandigarh.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra directed the state to provide adequate security also to Rajawat's family as well as Talib Hussain -- a member of the Bakerwal community who is helping the victim's family.

The court order came on the eight-year-old girl's father's plea who sought transfer of the trial in the case from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir to Chandigarh and protection to the family in the face of threats.

Rajawat alleged that she was labelled 'anti-Hindu' and was facing social boycott for taking up the case of the child rape victim, who was kidnapped on January 10 from Rasana village in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua and found murdered on January 10.

Senior counsel Indira Jaising, representing the girl's father, expressed satisfaction over the investigation and told the apex court that they wanted the transfer of the case trial to ensure it was fair.

The apex court directed for next hearing on April 27.

All eight accused in the Kathua rape-murder case were on presented on Monday before Kathua Chief Judicial Magistrate A.S. Langeh amid tight security as the trial began.

The eight include Sanji Ram, a former revenue official and an alleged mastermind of the heinous crime.

The trial court will hear the matter on April 28.

--IANS

pk/tsb/mr