The gruesome gang-rape and murder of an eight year old girl in Kathua, Jammu has shocked the nation but not the political class and the legal fraternity. This crime took place on January 10 this year and the girl’s body was found a week later. Medical examination confirmed sexual assault. Much of what actually transpired was revealed in the police charge sheet which records the versions of the perpetrators including one who is a juvenile. The crime was masterminded by Sanjhi Ram a former revenue official. The victim was first abducted and drugged, then raped in a forest before she was hidden in a temple for days and gang-raped. The intent was to teach a lesson to the members of the girl’s community – the nomadic Bakerwal Muslim tribe for allegedly trespassing into what is supposedly a Dogra territory. With each incident or rape in this country the heinousness just becomes more pronounced and gory.
What is more shocking however, is the protest by a group of lawyers who tried to prevent the police from filing their charge sheet citing that it was prejudiced against the minority Dogra community. The case was transferred to Jammu and Kashmir police’s crime branch with clear instructions from the DGP, S P Vaid to nab the culprits. As a result two police officers and five others were arrested. The police officials were allegedly trying to hush up the case after being bribed.
What is tragic is the communal colour that the crime has taken on and the politics involved which could prevent stringent punishment from being meted out to the accused. Jammu and Kashmir is now in ferment as politicians of all shades take up political positions without a care about the horrifying nature of the crime. Some groups have even taken out processions carrying the national flag to protest the arrest of the accused. But Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has assured that the guilty will be punished. She condemned the protestors calling their actions “appalling.”
There is a general feeling that all is not well in this country as far as the safety of women and girls is concerned. Law and order is compromised and has failed to contain rape. This crime is now on the upswing despite stringent laws.