Kathua Rape and Murder: SC Orders Protection For Judge, Prosecutor

SC ordered the transfer of 8 accused in the gangrape from Kathua district jail to the district jail in Gurdaspur.

Protesters during a midnight candlelight vigil against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. Image used for representation.

(Photo: PTI)

In an order on 9 July, the Supreme Court has ordered the Punjab government to ensure the security of the trial judge in the Kathua rape and murder case. The apex court also directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide safety to the special public prosecutor in the trial.

The Supreme Court also ordered the transfer of the eight accused in the gangrape from Kathua district jail to the district jail in Gurdaspur, Punjab.

The Court also directed the Jammu and Kashmir police to file a supplementary charge-sheet in the case within eight weeks.

The court has also ordered that the family of the accused be allowed to meet them at Gurdaspur Jail, at the expense of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Eight people stand accused of the abduction, rape and murder of an eight year old girl from Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir in January 2018.

The minor girl had disappeared from near her home in the forests next to Rasana village in Kathua, on 10 January.

The eight-year-old child, from a minority nomadic community, was allegedly kidnapped on 10 January by a juvenile nephew of the main accused, Sanji Ram, and later killed on 14 January. Her body was recovered on 17 January.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)