Jammu, Feb 18 (KNS): CPI (M) senior leader and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today termed the rally organised by a fringe right-wing group using the tricolour, demanding the release of the accused in the brutal rape-and-murder case of an 8-year-old Bakerwal girl in Kathua district, as most shameful act and against the human values.
The rally is an indication of dangers confronting Jammu and Kashmir. By supporting the accused the ‘Hindu Ekta Manch’ has shamelessly displayed their communal intentions. Using national flag during the rally is an insult of tri-colour and things can’t get more horrible than this.
Some fringe elements in Jammu are hell bent on giving religious colour to this heinous crime. Not only people cutting across political and ideological differences should unite to against this horrific incident, but the Government must take stern action against the accused without showing any leniency to them.
Civil society, political groups and saner voices in Jammu are strong and they should unitedly fight for the justice to the tender soul Asifa, who was raped and brutally murdered by the enemies of humanity. They should unite and isolate the fringe elements, who want to communalise the situation in Jammu by holding marches in favour of enemies of humanity. Such acts will embolden criminals and lead to a chaotic and uncontrollable situation in the state, he warned. There should be no room for those who shield the criminals under the one garb or the other.
A criminal is a criminal irrespective of his caste, colour and creed and must be dealt according to law. By evoking emotions and giving communal colour to Asifa’s rape and murder, these fringe elements are committing a heinous crime against the humanity. These anti-social and anti-human elements are trying to politicize the issue and halt the investigation to derive political mileages out of this barbaric incident.
Quoting example of similar brutal incident in Lahore, Pakistan, where a seven-year-old girl Zainab was raped and brutally murdered, he said, the accused has been sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court in shortest possible period of four days.
The civil society in Pakistan used its influence to get the speedy trial of the case and they succeeded in their mission. I am hopeful that similar efforts would be made by the civil society here to ensure that the accused in Asifa’s rape and murder case are hanged to death without any further delay. He said that who knows how many such innocent girls become victims of such barbarism each day in the world.
During the recently concluded Assembly session I had moved a calling attention notice to demand the status of the investigation ordered into the rape and murder of Asifa. In its reply the government had assured that the case would be taken to logical conclusion and those found guilty will be sternly punished. (KNS)