Civil society groups and separatists held street demonstrations in Srinagar over the Hindu Ekta Manch’s recent march to defend an accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu.
“Nothing can be more evil and shameless than supporting the rapists and murderers of a girl child and then threatening the community with dire consequences. The BJP’s support of the Manch, which is threatening the Gujjars in Kathua, reflects its moral bankruptcy,” said JKLF chief Yasin Malik at a protest rally in Srinagar. “The accused should be immediately hanged,” he said.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani and All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also addressed the rally on the phone.
“The Peoples Democratic Party and its ally BJP is trying hard to trigger a communal flare-up in the region. This is the why the BJP and its allies like the RSS and the Hindu Ekta Manch are giving this issue a communal colour,” said Mr. Geelani.
Several civil society members and traders addressed the protesters.
Another group of protester held a demonstration in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk and sought a ban on the Manch.
The victim, a resident of Kathua’s Hiranagar, went missing on January 10 near her home. Her body was found in the Rassana forest area on January 17.
Later, Special Police Officer Deepak Khajuria was arrested in the case by the Crime Branch.
