Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
She was only eight years old and her height must have reached up to my waist, or maybe a little taller.
Locked in a dark room in Jammu's Kathua, knocked-out unconscious with sedatives and left without food for days, her body, mind and soul must have given up.
They subjected her to rape every day, and when her corporal flesh couldn't satisfy their monstrous urges they simply decided to snuff out her life.
You may wonder why I am narrating this bone-chilling, hair-raising story to you? But today, you must listen to it.
So that we can save what little humanity is left in us. So that our shame isn't hidden behind the garb of religion or national pride. There's nothing more profane than rape.
The chargesheet mentions that the rape took place inside a temple and names the temple's priest as the chief accused. Among the perpetrators are the priest's son and nephew.
What initially was a case of rape, later threw up twists that have brought us untold shame. It is being said that tensions between Hindus and members of the Bakarwal (nomadic) tribe led to more and more fights.
Some Hindus decided to teach the Bakarwal Muslims a lesson and made the little girl their scapegoat. A conspiracy was hatched to derive her commune away.
The entire plan was the brainchild of retired revenue officer and the temple's priest Sanji Ram. He planned the girl's kidnapping to spread fear in the minds of the Bakarwal community, so that they eventually leave Kathua.
According to the plan, the girl was kidnapped on 10 January, when she took the horses out to graze. Her family members lodged a missing report with the Hiranagar police station. They went from pillar to post, but the girl was nowhere to be found.
After seven days, on 17 January, her corpse was found in a jungle. After being kidnapped, she was raped every day after being fed sedatives.
One of the perpetrators was called in specially from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, so that he could satiate his lust. They first tried to strangulate her, but when that failed they strangulated her with a cloth. When they realised that she was still alive, they smashed her face with a big stone.
Her parents and community members held protests demanding justice for the girl.
The protest grew as more information came in. Investigations were handed over to the crime branch and even an SIT was formed.
After investigations were concluded on 9 April and eight people, including a police personnel, were charged with gang rape & murder, justice, it seemed, was very close. However, these hopes were dashed soon as protests in support of the perpetrators were organised.
Can we really stoop so low?
A shocking incident was suddenly given a communal character and demonstrations
were held in support of the rapists. These stirs were being led by two ministers in the PDP-BJP government, Lal Singh Chaudhary and Chandra Prakash Ganga. Even the head of Jammu Bar Association came out with Tricolour in the streets. He thinks a particular religion is being targeted.
In school, we were told the Tricolour belongs to the nation. How can the Tricolour be a tool for these apologists?
No, it can never happen. The sooner this message is delivered, the better. The incident has turned into a political drama. These developments have painted an unmatched picture of communalism and lechery.
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