Kathua rape case
2018 Kathua abduction, gang rape and murder case | |
---|---|
![]() Protests for the 2018 Kathua abduction, gang rape and murder case | |
Location | Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
Coordinates | 32°23′06″N 75°31′01″E / 32.385°N 75.517°E |
Date | 10 January 2018 17 January 2018 | -
Target | Asifa Bano |
Attack type | Abduction, gang rape, and murder |
Injured | Sexual assault (gang rape) |
Victim | Asifa Bano |
Perpetrators | Six men and a juvenile |
Motive | Drive out the nomadic Muslim community of Bakarwals from Hiranagar Tehsil[1] |
Accused | Sanji Ram Deepak Khajuria Tilak Raj Arvind Dutta Parvesh Kumar Vishal (son of Sanji Ram) A Juvenile (nephew of Sanji Ram)[2][3] |
Convicted | Sanji Ram Deepak Khajuria Surender Verma Tilak Raj Anand Dutta Parvesh Kumar.[4] |
Verdict | Six of the seven accused were convicted |
Convictions | Sanji Ram, Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar were sentenced to life imprisonment of 25 years. Tilak Raj, Anand Dutta and Surender Verma were sentenced to five years in jail for destroying evidence. Court acquitted Vishal due to lack of evidence. A juvenile, will be tried at a juvenile court.[5] |
The Kathua rape case involved the abduction, gang rape, and murder of an 8-year-old Muslim girl, Asifa Bano, by seven males (six men and a juvenile) in January 2018 in the Rasana village near Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, India. A chargesheet for the case was filed, the accused were arrested and the trial began in Kathua on 16 April 2018.[6][7] The victim belonged to the nomadic Bakarwal community, and the crime was a bid to terrorise the group off Jammu.[8] She disappeared for a week before her body was discovered by the villagers a kilometer away from the village.[9][10][8][11] The incident made national news when charges were filed against eight men in April 2018. The arrests of the accused led to protests by the Panthers Party and other local groups, who sought justice for the victim.[12][13][14][15] The gang rape and murder, as well as the support the accused received especially from local officials of the Bharatiya Janata party, sparked widespread outrage in India and world-wide.[16][17][9]
On 10 June 2019, six of the seven defendants were convicted and one acquitted.[18] Three of those convicted were sentenced to life imprisonment and the remaining three to five years.[19] In October 2019, court ordered a First Information Report (FIR) against 6 members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the case, for allegedly torturing and coercing witnesses to give false statements.[20]
Incident
[edit]Complaint
[edit]The 5600-word chargesheet filed by a Senior Superintendent of Police of Jammu, states that on 12 January 2018, Mohammad Yusuf lodged a complaint in the Hiranagar police station stating that his daughter had gone missing. His complaint said that on 10 January 2018 his daughter, aged 8, had gone to watch over grazing horses at 12.30 p.m. She was seen at 2.00 p.m., but when the horses returned at 4.00 p.m., she was no longer with them. After searching for her and being unable to find her, her father registered a First Information Report (FIR) with the police.[21][22]
Discovery and arrests
[edit]On 17 January 2018, the body of the victim was found and taken into custody by the police to allow an autopsy to be conducted. The postmortem was conducted by a team of doctors at the District Hospital in Kathua at 2:30 PM on the same day. On 22 January 2018, the investigation of the case was transferred to the Crime Branch and Crime Headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir.[21][22] A statement released by the police listed seven individuals who had been arrested and charged over the crime, including four police officers.[17] A total of eight people, including four police officers, were arrested.[23][24] Two of the police officers were arrested on suspicion of attempting to destroy evidence[17] and of accepting money to cover up the incident. One of the accused claimed to be 15 years old, though a medical examination later suggested he was 19. Sanji Ram, one of the accused, was described by the police as having devised the plan of kidnap and murder.[25] The chargesheet against the seven adults accused of the crime was filed on 9 April. The accused were charged under Sections 302, 376, 201 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code. A chargesheet against the remaining individual was under preparation.[26]
Forensic evidence
[edit]The post-mortem revealed the presence of clonazepam in the body of the dead girl.[24] The examination by the doctors found that the girl had been drugged with a sedative before she was raped and murdered. Forensic evidence suggested that she had been held for several days by Sanji Ram, one of the individuals accused of the crime. Strands of hair recovered from the temple matched those taken from the girl.[17] The forensic examination stated that Bano had been raped multiple times by different men, and that she had been strangled to death, as well as hit in the head with a heavy stone.[9]
The Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory analyzed 14 packets of evidence containing vaginal swabs, hair strands, blood samples of four accused, viscera of the deceased girl, the girl's frock and salwar, simple clay, and blood stained clay. Vaginal swabs matched with the DNA of the accused as did some other samples. Hair strands found in the temple where Asifa was raped matched that of the girl and the accused.[27]
The accused
[edit]Sanji Ram was found to be the main accused in the case. He is the priest of the family temple, where the incident took place. The Hindu community of the village prays three times a day in that temple according to local people. His son Vishal and his nephew, a juvenile, were also accused in the case. The others who have been accused are Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar, who are police officers; Tilak Raj, a head constable and Arvind Dutta, a sub-inspector. The police contested the claim that the nephew was a juvenile.[2][3][28][29] Vishal Jangotra claimed to be in Meerut attending an exam. However, according to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), his signature does not match the signature on the exam attendance sheet[30] but based on evidence submitted by an Indian Media House which included CCTV footage of Vishal Jangotra in a Muzaffarnagar ATM on day of crime. [31]
Aftermath and analysis
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Memorial_for_the_Kathua_Rape_Case_at_the_Indian_Consulate_in_Munich%2C_Germany.jpg/200px-Memorial_for_the_Kathua_Rape_Case_at_the_Indian_Consulate_in_Munich%2C_Germany.jpg)
Reactions
[edit]The rape and murder made headlines in India when the charges were filed in April.[16] The rape and murder drew widespread condemnation. On 18 January opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir staged a walkout from the Legislative Assembly in protest of the incident.[33] Various protests have been held across Jammu and Kashmir.[34]
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti stated that the investigation would be carried out quickly.[35][36] Mufti also stated that the death penalty would be made mandatory for individuals convicted of raping a minor.[37] Maneka Gandhi, the Indian Minister of Women and Child Development, also expressed support for the death penalty in cases of child rape, and stated that her ministry would move a Cabinet note to amend The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act act.[38] Advocate Deepika Singh Rajawat took over the trail pro-bono for the victims family.[39]
On 13 April 2018, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, as well as the Supreme Court of India, made statements condemning the incident and said justice would be ensured.[40][41] United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the "guilty must be held responsible" and described the incident as "horrific". The United Nations also expressed hopes that authorities will bring perpetrators to justice.[42]
Several celebrities and prominent politicians voiced anger over the incident.[43][44] On 12 April 2018, a candlelight march was held at India Gate, New Delhi. It was attended by Indian National Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Priyanka Gandhi.[45][46] An FIR has been filed against lawyers protesting in support of Hindu Ekta Manch.[47] An assistant manager working for Kotak Mahindra Bank in Kerala, generated outrage on social media for condoning the rape on Facebook, and stating "it is better that [Asifa is] killed now otherwise she would have been a bomb tomorrow". He was later fired by the bank.[48][49]
Due to the Kathua rape case and Unnao rape case incidents coming to the limelight in the national discourse at the same time, joint protests for both the incidents were carried out together in various parts of the country such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi.[50][51][52][53]
Former minister, Harsh Dev Singh, led protests by the Panthers Party, demanding an independent CBI probe into the matter,[54][55] that was refused by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.[56][57]
Raj Shrikant Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena criticized the BJP for "supporting the rapists" and "communalising the incident". He suggested Sharia type punishment for the rapists. He said "These BJP leaders created Hindu Ekta Manch in Jammu which held a rally shouting slogans of Bharat Mata ki jai (translation: victory to mother India), waving the tricolour in favour of rapists. How can you even think of doing so? The eight-year-old innocent child was not even aware of her religion and had to undergo such pain. Here we have a party which is protecting the rapists" [58][59][60]
Communal tension
[edit]The incident resulted in widespread anger across Jammu and Kashmir. Following protests by members of the opposition, the state government handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch of the state police.[17] The chargesheet filed by the police stated that the abduction of the victim was planned in an attempt to get personal revenge by the accused, as well as to intimidate the Bakarwal community into moving out of the area.[17] The Bakarwal people are a Muslim minority living in a Hindu-dominated Kathua district.[37] The fact that Asifa was held in a Hindu temple increased the communal tension it generated.[25] Local leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party stated that the arrests had been made under political pressure, and asked for the crime to be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).[24] Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, whose People's Democratic Party shares power in the state with the BJP, rejected the demand.[17] News reports suggested that the demand for a CBI probe was an effort to make the investigation lenient on the accused; the CBI is a branch of the Indian Union government, controlled by the Indian Union government.[25] Madhya Pradesh BJP President stated that militants from Pakistan were to blame for the rape and murder; his statement received criticism in the press.[61] Individuals across party lines set up an organisation called the "Hindu Ekta Manch" (Hindu Unity Movement) which argued that the arrested individuals were innocent.[62] The victim's community planned to bury her in a graveyard where they had purchased some land a few years previously. The victim's father stated that when the family attempted to bury Asifa, they were threatened with violence by right-wing Hindu activists, and were compelled to bury her in a different village.[8]
Protests supporting the accused
[edit]Right-wing Hindu groups staged protests against the arrests of the accused individuals, who are all Hindus.[63][64] Two ministers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Forest Minister Lal Singh Chaudhary and Industries Minister Chander Prakash, attended one of the protests.[16] One of the women protesters told The New York Times that they were "against our religion", and stated that the protesters would burn themselves if the accused were not released.[25] While attempting to file charges against the accused on 9 April, the Crime Branch police were met with protests from lawyers in front of the Chief Judicial Magistrate's office in Kathua. The lawyers were protesting in support of the Hindu Ekta Manch, and tried to prevent the charges from being filed; the chargesheet was submitted eventually after police reinforcements arrived.[62] This support for individuals accused of rape led to widespread social outrage.[16]
Fines for disclosing the identity of the victim
[edit]The Delhi High Court issued a fine of ₹ 10 lakhs (1 million) rupees on twelve media houses in India for disclosing the name of the rape victim as well as other details including the usage of photographs of the victim. This action by the High Court of New Delhi was taken suo-motu and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the Indian Penal Code. The fine was to be paid within a week. The money collected from the fine has gone to the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Scheme.[65][66]
The media houses included The Hindu, The Times of India, Republic TV, The Indian Express, The Week and NDTV. Lawyers representing media houses claim that the mistake was only made because there was a misunderstanding that the law in this case only extended to naming and revealing information related to rape survivors, and not rape victims. Following this, media houses across the country blanked out the name of the victim online in already published articles also.[67][68][69]
Trial
[edit]The trial for the Kathua murder and rape case began in Jammu and Kashmir on 16 April 2018 before the Principal Sessions Court judge, Kathua.[6] The second hearing was scheduled for 28 April 2018.[7] The Supreme Court sought a response from the Jammu and Kashmir government regarding shifting the trial to Chandigarh by 27 April 2018.[70] A demand by Bhim Singh, leader of the Panthers Party, for an independent inquiry by the CBI was heard and denied by the Supreme Court of India.[71][72][73]
On 7 May 2018, the Supreme Court of India shifted the case from Jammu and Kashmir to Pathankot. The Supreme Court instructed the trial to be fast-tracked. The trial was closed to the public and press according to orders from the Supreme Court. The trial also was held in-camera as per instructions from the Supreme Court.[74][75][76]
The trial was being held under the Ranbir Penal Code, according to laws in Jammu and Kashmir.[74]
On 14 November 2018, the family of the rape victim decided to drop their lawyer Deepika Rajawat.[77] The application to remove the power of attorney was filed before the trial court in Pathankot, where the girl's father said Rajawat won't be representing them in the case anymore stating her security concerns and general lack of interest in the case.[78] Over 100 hearings have taken place so far, but Deepika Rajawat was only present twice.[79][80]
Sentencing
[edit]On 10 June 2019, six of the seven defendants were found guilty, and one was acquitted.[18][81] Sanji Ram, Deepak Khajuria and Pravesh Kumar were sentenced to life imprisonment for 25 years, along with a fine of ₹1,00,000 = $1255.8.[82][83] The other three accused - Tilak Raj, Anand Dutta and Surender Verma were sentenced to five years in jail for destroying crucial evidence in the case. The court acquitted Sanji Ram's son, Vishal due to lack of evidence. The eighth accused, Sanji Ram's juvenile nephew, was tried at a juvenile court.[82][83][84]
FIR against SIT
[edit]On 22 October 2019, a Jammu court ordered an FIR to be filed against members of the J&K Crime Branch's Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the rape and murder in Kathua case. The order was based on a complaint from Sachin Sharma, Neeraj Sharma and Sahil Sharma alleging torture during interrogation to "provide false evidence" against one of the accused Vishal Jangotra, who was later acquitted in the case.[85][20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "'Rape-murder in Kathua meant to drive out Muslim tribe' - Times of India ►". The Times of India. 12 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Temple at centre of tragedy: No one coming to mandir for days now - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Kathua case: Charges of rape and murder framed against 7 accused". The Economic Times. 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Temple Priest, Nephew, Son: Who Was Convicted and Who Was Acquitted in Kathua Rape and Murder Case". Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ India Today Web Desk (11 June 2019). "Kathua rape-murder case: Life sentence for 3 - All that happened in 10 points". Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Accused seek narco test as Kathua rape-and-murder trial begins - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b "8 Accused Plead Not Guilty, Demand Narco Test As Kathua Rape Trial Begins". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b c "The brutal crime that has Kashmir on edge". BBC News. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Eltagouri, Marwa (11 April 2018). "An 8-year-old's rape and murder inflames tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (11 April 2018). "An 8-Year-Old's Rape and Killing Fuels Religious Tensions in India". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ "Dedicated police team resisted odds to crack Asifa rape case". Asia Times. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Over 70 JKNPP activists detained in Jammu". Kashmir Reader. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape case: JKNPP demands CBI inquiry". Catch News India. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "After Kathua Rape, False Binaries Expose Hate and Mistrust in Jammu". CNN-News18. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Out of Cabinet, Lal Singh goes vitriolic against CM". The Tribune. 18 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Outrage spreads over eight-year-old's rape". BBC News. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "J&K: Kathua Rape-And-Murder Of 8-Year-Old Girl Was Aimed At Driving Nomads Out: Official". Outlook India. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Kathua child rape and murder: India court finds six guilty". BBC News. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Kathua Rape Case Court Result". News Nation. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ a b "In Fresh Twist to Kathua Rape-Murder, Court Orders Case Against SIT Members for 'Torturing' Witnesses". News18. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Kathua rape and murder case: Full text of chargesheet filed by Jammu and Kashmir Police - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Kathua Rape Charge-Sheet: An Account of Monstrosity and Barbarism". The Quint. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Father-son duo held in Kathua rape case". The Hindu. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ a b c "Kathua rape-murder case: Tests confirm victim held in prayer hall, was sedated". The Indian Express. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d Gettleman, Jeffrey (11 April 2018). "An 8-Year-Old's Rape and Killing Fuels Religious Tensions in India". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Ashiq, Peerzada (20 June 2017). "Chargesheet submitted in Kathua rape and murder case". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape-murder case: Vaginal swabs match with accused, says forensic lab". The Indian Express. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua case: Police to produce witnesses including SSP tomorrow - Times of India". The Times of India. 10 June 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape: Devasthan belonged to a family and was not open to all, says Crime branch official". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 18 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua case: Accused's signatures don't match with exam sheet".
- ^ "Watch: Zee News CCTV footage which showed Kathua acquitted Vishal was in Muzaffarnagar on day of crime".
- ^ "Not In My Name protests launched after Kathua, Unnao cases; hundreds march over atrocities against minorities". 15 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape case: FIR filed against lawyers trying to block chargesheet; bar association calls for Jammu bandh today - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape: A day of multihued protests in Jammu and Kashmir". DNA. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape and murder case: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti vows fast-track investigation". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Mehbooba rebukes protesting lawyers, promises justice for Kathua rape victim". Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Jammu And Kashmir To Make Death Penalty Must For Rape Of Minors After Kathua Rape-Murder Case". NDTV.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua Rape Case: Maneka Gandhi To Ask For Death Penalty For Child Rape". NDTV.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Lawyer Who Represented Kathua Rape Accused Gets Government Post". NDTV.com. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Narendra Modi Breaks Silence on Kathua, Unnao Rapes, Promises Justice - The Wire". The Wire. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ Team, BS Web (13 April 2018). "Kathua, Unnao rapes: Modi ends silence, assures 'complete justice'; updates". Business Standard India. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Guilty must be held accountable: UN chief on Kathua rape". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Sania Mirza's patriotism 'questioned' for speaking on Kathua gang rape case, here's her reply". Hindustan Times. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Is this the country we live in: Sania Mirza tweets on Kathua rape case", Times Now, 12 April 2018, retrieved 13 April 2018
- ^ "Kathua rape-murder aftermath: 10 developments - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Rahul Gandhi Leads Candlelight Vigil In Delhi Demanding Justice In Kathua, Unnao Cases". NDTV.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape case: FIR filed against lawyers trying to block chargesheet; bar association calls for Jammu bandh today - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Kerala bank fires employee for saying it's 'better' Kathua rape victim was killed". Hindustan Times. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Good she was killed, says Kerala man of Kathua rape victim; case filed". The Tribune. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ Dhanrajani, Rachna (14 April 2018). "Kathua, Unnao rapes: rage on the street". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Hundreds Of Mumbaikars Assemble To Protest Kathua, Unnao Rape Cases". NDTV.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Congress march highlights: Party holds nationwide protest, seeks justice in Kathua, Unnao rape cases LIVE News, Latest Updates, Live blog, Highlights and Live coverage - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Chennai, Kolkata Take to Streets to Protest Kathua, Unnao Rapes". The Quint. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Only CBI probe can ensure justice in Kathua murder case: JKNPP". India Today. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh protest and demands CBI inquiry to Rasana murder case". State Times. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "JKNPP demands resignation of BJP ministers". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Angry protesters take to streets in Jammu, demand CBI probe into Kathua rape case". India Today. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Raj Thackeray slams BJP for "backing rapists" in Kathua rape case". Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "BJP communalising Kathua rape, says Raj Thackeray".
- ^ "Raj Thackeray bats for Shariah like punishment for rapes".
- ^ "MP BJP chief sees Pak hand in Kathua rape case - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Shielding Jammu Child Rape, Murder Accused, Lawyers Block Chargesheet". Ndtv.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "India's Muslims fear for their future under Narendra Modi". BBC News. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Politics over rape: Hindu extremists demand release of 8-year-old Muslim girl's rapists in held-Kashmir". Dawn, Associated Press. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ Singh, Soibam Rocky (18 April 2018). "Delhi HC asks media houses to pay penalty for revealing Kathua victim's identity". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape and murder case: Delhi High Court slaps Rs 10 lakh fine on media houses for revealing victim's identity". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ Singh, Aditi (19 April 2018). "Kathua rape: HC imposes Rs10 lakh fine each on 12 media houses for disclosing victim's identity". Livemint. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Delhi HC Fines Media Cos That Revealed Kathua Rape Victim's Name". The Quint. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape and murder case: Media houses apologise before Delhi HC for revealing victim's identity - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ Rajagopal, Krishnadas (16 April 2018). "Kathua rape case: provide security to victim's family and lawyer, SC tells J&K govt". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Hand over Kathua rape-murder case to CBI: Bhim urges PM". United News of India. 14 April 2018.
- ^ "Kathua victim's father says shift trial, Supreme Court seeks J-K govt reply". The Indian Express. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
"Ordinarily, police is the authority for investigation. A case has to be made out that it (investigation) is not going in the right manner. In the absence of that, as presently advised, we are not entering into that," the bench told Senior Advocate and National Panthers Party Chief Patron Bhim Singh, who sought to intervene in the matter.
- ^ "SC query on plea for trial transfer". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
The bench, however, made it clear that it would not allow any intervention application after senior advocate and J&K Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh pleaded that the matter be entrusted to an independent agency like the CBI.
- ^ a b Rajagopal, Krishnadas; Rajagopal, Krishnadas (8 May 2018). "Trial in Kathua case moved to Pathankot". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ IANS (7 May 2018). "Kathua rape-murder trial shifted to Pathankot". Business Standard India. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Supreme Court Tells Kathua Witnesses To Go To High Court For Protection". NDTV.com. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Kathua Victim's Family Drops Lawyer, Says She Came To Court Just Twice". NDTV.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Kathua rape & murder case: Victim's family removes Deepika Singh Rajawat as attorney citing threat to her life". Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Sethi, Chitleen (14 November 2018). "Kathua rape-murder victim's family dumps lawyer-activist Deepika Singh Rajawat". The Print.
- ^ "Family of Kathua victim drops lawyer, says she seldom came to court - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Express daily briefing: Kathua rape-and-murder case verdict likely today, Champions get a masterclass in 2019 and more". The Indian Express. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Kathua rape-murder case: Life sentence for 3 | All that happened in 10 points". India Today. Ist. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Kathua rape-murder case: Mastermind Sanji Ram, 2 others given life sentence, 5-year jail term for 3 cops". India Today. Ist. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ^ "Kathua rape-murder case verdict: 6 accused convicted out of 7". India Today. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ^ "Court orders FIR against Kathua rape investigators". The Indian Express. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.