Jammu bar makes U-turn: Demands compensation for Kathua victim’s family

Jammu, Apr 14: Jammu bar association spearheading an agitation to demand CBI probe into Kathua rape-and-murder case has made a volte-face by demanding compensation for Asifa’s family and deciding to hold candlelight march in her memory.
The sudden change of heart comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Asifa incident was shameful and vowed to punish her rapists and killers.
A spokesman of the bar, in a statement, said that the members would hold a candlelight march procession from District Court complex Janipur to Ambphala at 6 pm today “in memory of the victim and to pay respectful homage to the departed soul”.
He said this was decided in a meeting chaired by B S Salathia yesterday, in which measures were discussed to intensify the ongoing agitation.
“Salathi and other office bearers were of the opinion that the state government has miserably failed to protect the family of the rape victim in the Rasana rape-and-murder case,” said the spokesman.
Salathia, he said, urged the state government to provide adequate monetary compensation to the family of the victim in order to provide immediate relief and succuour.
He also demanded immediate protection to the life and property of the victim family.
The spokesman said that it was reiterated in the meeting that demanding CBI investigation into the case doesn’t tantamount to shielding the real accused. “…but the real intention was to provide justice to the victim by fair and independent probe.”
On Friday, the Supreme Court directed the Association to ensure that access of justice was not denied to the family and that no obstruction was caused to them.
The court also issued notice to the Bar Council of India, Jammu and Kashmir Bar Council, Jammu Bar Association and Kathua District Bar Association seeking response as it was brought to its notice that lawyers did not allow the the filing of the chargesheet.
In January, the eight-year-old victim went missing while grazing horses in Rassana forest in Kathua district. Her body was recovered a week later.
Investigations revealed she was held captive inside a temple, and was sedated before being repeatedly raped and murdered.