UN: Hope authorities bring Kathua rape perpetrators to justice
What's the story
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres today termed the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in J&K's Kathua district as horrific. He hoped the perpetrators would be brought to justice. The child from the nomadic Muslim Bakarwal community was kidnapped, sedated, held captive and gang-raped by six men repeatedly before being brutally bludgeoned to death in January. Here's more on what he said.
Statement
What exactly did the UN Secretary General say?
Responding to a question about the Secretary General's response to the bloodcurdling crime, Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujjaric said, "We've seen the media reports of this horrific case, of the abuse and the murder of a young girl." She added, "We very much hope that the authorities will bring the perpetrators to justice so they can be held accountable for this young girl's murder."
Outrage
Meanwhile, in India, the case has sparked immense outrage
The horrific incident has shook India. Congress led a silent vigil at Delhi's India Gate seeking justice for the victim. "Women are scared to step out of homes. This is a national issue, not political," they said. Last night, PM Modi also broke his silence saying, "As a country and society, we are ashamed of it." He added, "No culprit will be spared. Our daughters will definitely get justice."
Status
What is the current status of the case?
A Special Investigation Team of Crime Branch has arrested the alleged mastermind Sanji Ram, a former government official and custodian of Kathua's Devisthan temple where the girl was raped, his son Vishal Jangotra, his juvenile nephew, Special Police Officers (SPO) Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar. Sub-Inspector Anand Dutta and Head Constable Tilak Raj were also charged with destroying evidence.