Kathua rape victim's family expresses satisfaction over encounter killings in Hyderabad

The family of an eight-year-old girl, who was gang-raped and murdered in Kathua in January last year, expressed satisfaction over the encounter killings in Hyderabad, saying at least the family of the victim will not have to face "nightmare" of lengthy trial.

The biological father of the Kathua victim, Mohammed Akhtar, told PTI over phone from his residence in Samba, 30 km from here, that if these people had indulged in the heinous crime, "I feel justice has been done with the victim and her family".

They deserved death for what they have done and their end would at least relieve the veterinarian's family of the ordeal of the courts and lurking threat of the acquittal of the accused.

All four accused in the rape-and-murder of a 25-year-old woman veterinarian last month were killed by police on Friday morning. The incident took place around 6.30 am when the accused, lorry workers aged between 20 and 24, were taken to the scene of the crime near Hyderabad for a reconstruction of events as part of the investigation, a senior police official said.

Akhtar said, "My daughter's case moved to a court in Pathankot (Punjab) on the direction of the Supreme Court and after a lengthy trial, one of the main accused was released while another, who is reported to be a juvenile, is still under trial (in Jammu). I am not sure whether he gets the punishment for his role in the crime."