Kathua gangrape-murder case updates: Top 10 developments

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Kathua gangrape-murder case: Protest against the rape and murder of 8-year-old in Kathua, J&K
Kathua gangrape-murder case: Protest against the rape and murder of 8-year-old in Kathua, J&K

New Delhi : The outpour of anger against the violent gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua Jammu and Kashmir is visible across the nation. In the gruesome incident, a minor from a nomad Muslim community was imprisoned, sedated and raped for several days at a temple before she was brutally murdered. From politicians to Bollywood celebrities to common people, almost the entire India is demanding justice for the victim and her family.

Take a look at the top 10 development in Kathua rape murder case, till now:

1. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi led a midnight candlelight march to India Gate in the national capital to protest the Kathua rape case. The congress party leaders allege that the daughters of the country are not safe in the Narendra Modi government.

2. Rahul was supported by his sister Priyanka and her husband Robert Vadra as well as scores of Congress leaders, party workers and students, who shouted slogans against the Modi government and the state government in Jammu & Kashmir, demanding urgent action.

3. During the messy situation, Priyanka rebuked the unruly crowd, saying people should “at least respect the cause” for which they all had come together. “Nobody will push each other,” said Priyanka. “You should all know the reason for which you have gathered here. If you cannot behave, go home. Now, all of you will silently walk,” she added.

4. Later in the morning, a "deeply, deeply disturbed" Maneka Gandhi said that she aims to ask for the death penalty for those who rape children below 12 years of age. "Am deeply, deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua, and all the recent rape cases. I and the ministry intend to bring an amendment to the POCSO Act asking for the death penalty for the rape of children below 12 years of age," said Maneka. POCSO is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

5. The 8-year-old victim’s father Muhammad Yusuf Pujwala too today asked for the death penalty. "I miss my daughter every day. Those responsible for killing my daughter should be hanged till death," said Pujwala.

6. In the meantime the Supreme Court said today it will, of its own accord, examine the horrific Kathua rape incident, provided advocates presented the facts of the case to the court in writing. In Delhi, a group of lawyers who practice in the apex court requested an SC bench take suo moto cognisance of the terrible rape incident. The lawyers said they would put together the facts of the case in writing for the SC.

7. Today, J&K's director general of police SP Vaid said nothing could be worse than the Kathua gangrape-murder. "It is a very heinous crime, it can't get worse than this. The Special Investigation Team has done a very professional job and filed chargesheet, now we hope justice will be done," said Vaid

8. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is in power in J&K along with the BJP, has asked all its ministers, legislators and senior leaders to be present for a special meeting tomorrow in Srinagar at 11 am, possibly to discuss the Kathua rape and murder incident.

9. Yesterday afternoon, Union minister VK Singh was the first one from the government to express his grief at the horrific incident."We have failed her as humans. But she will not be denied justice," tweeted Singh about the eight-year-old.

10. The SC took serious note of the Kathua District Bar Association and the High Court Bar Association at Jammu opposing the filing of the chargesheet in the rape case. A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked for answers from all the people it issued notices to by April 19.

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