File picture of Asifa
Srinagar, Apr 12 (KNS): The rape and murder case of an eight-year-old nomad girl who was abducted, drugged, gang-raped and was confined in the temple has led to a storm on social media, with people from all quarters condemning the reprehensible act with the hashtag #JusticeforAsifa.
Asifa Bano was abducted, raped and murdered in Hiranagar area of Kathua district on January 10 and her body was spotted by villagers in a nearby forest on January 17. The Incident has been condemned globally.
President, Indian National Congress and member parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter “How can anyone protect the culprits of such evil? What happened to Asifa at #Kathua is a crime against humanity. It cannot go unpunished. What have we become if we allow politics to interfere with such unimaginable brutality perpetrated on an innocent child?”
“In India, the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl has led to protests by Hindu nationalists — coming to the defense of the accused.” New York Times World tweeted according to KNS.
“Is this really the kind of country we want to be known as to the world today? If we can’t stand up now for this 8 year old girl regardless of our gender, caste, colour or religion then we don’t stand for anything in this world.. not even humanity.. makes me sick to the stomach,” writes a tennis champion Sania Mirza.
Sania was one of the numerous big names on Thursday to take to twitter to scrutinize the unresponsiveness encompassing the gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old young girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua.
“Asifa’s eyes haunt me.What depths are we stooping to? Where is our moral compass? Cannot let this rot spread. For the sake of Mother India. Let us be firm about bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice. Let us show we are a law-abiding, law-enforcing country. @PMOIndia,” writes Former foreign secretary Nirupama Menon Rao.
“We have failed Ashifa as humans. But she will not be denied justice.#PunishTheSavages #RapeAndMurderOfHumanity #Kathua #JusticeForAshifa #GenerallySaying,” tweets General Vijay Kumar Singh, an Indian politician and a retired four-star general in the Indian Army.
“Ashamed appalled and disgusted by fake nationals and fake Hindus. I cannot believe this is happening in my country,” Bolly wood actress, Sonam Kapoor wrote on twitter.
Indian consciousness was raped in Unnao and then in Kathua. It’s now being murdered in corridors of our stinking systems. Come on ‘Mr System’, show us if you have the balls to punish the perpetrators, I challenge you. #KathuaMurderCase #UnnaoRapeCase,” writes Cricketer Gautham Ghambir.
Veer Das, Indian stand-up comedian on Thursday writes on Twitter, “Dear politicians,I’d like to see every one of you miserable scum and your army of slimy sycophants put your parties and your bullshit aside and do something to make sure that no child ever has to face what this girl did. But you won’t. Because you don’t deserve this country.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said that the irresponsible actions and statements of a group of people won’t obstruct the law.
She on Twitter said that the proper procedures are being followed and investigations are on the fast track. “Justice will be delivered,” she added.
“The Law will not be obstructed by the irresponsible actions & statements of a group of people. Proper procedures are being followed, investigations are on the fast track & justice will be delivered. #JusticeForAsifa,” Chief Minister tweeted.
“A 8 year old is drugged, raped & murdered and another one is fighting for justice for herself and the death of her father in custody. We have a choice either raise your voice or be a silent spectator.‘Stand up for what is right even if you are standing alone.’#Kathua #Unnao,” tweets Bollywood Actor, Riteish Deshmukh
Asifa Bano, an eight-year-old nomad Muslim girl, was abducted, raped and murdered in Hiranagar area of Kathua district on January 10 and her body was spotted by villagers in a nearby forest on January 17.
On January 23, the Mehbooba Mufti government had ordered a probe into the incident and subsequently handed over the case to the Crime Branch of police.
The 18-page charge-sheet filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the chief judicial magistrate’s court Kuthua on Monday said that Sanji Ram, the caretaker of the “Devisthan” (small temple), is listed as the main conspirator behind the crime.
According to the charge sheet, the girl’s father Mohd Yousuf lodged a complaint on January 12 at the Hiranagar station that his daughter had not returned since January 10.
On January 22, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch.
The charge sheet states that Ram masterminded the conspiracy to kidnap and, later rape and kill the girl. It further reads that Former revenue official and custodian of Kathua’s Devisthan temple, Sanji Ram, had “separately” tasked his nephew and a policeman with kidnapping 8-year-old Asifa, administering her sedatives, and confining her in Devisthan temple.
“Forensic reports have also corroborated that the victim was kept inside the temple. A strand of hair recovered from Devisthan “matched” with the DNA profile of Asifa.” (KNS)