Srinagar: The specially convened Pathankot fast-track court’s verdict awarding life imprisonment to the three main convicts in the gangrape-and-murder of an eight-year-old nomad girl in Kathua district in January 2018 has been widely welcomed in the state. Three police officials convicted for destruction of evidence have been handed over five years’ imprisonment each.
The victim’s family’s counsel Mubeen Farooqui on Monday said the court verdict was a victory for all the communities — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. “It’s Satyamev Jayate (truth alone triumphs). This victory belongs to all the communities, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians”.
However, he, apparently not satisfied with the quantum of sentences, said, “We will appeal for capital punishment to the convicts”.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti who was chief minister when the incident took place told this newspaper, “It is a matter of satisfaction. The Crime Branch team, the prosecution officers and the legal representatives of the victim’s family worked hard and in true professional way to ensure justice is delivered. Also, the entire country stood up to the truth”.
Later she in a statement said, “The feeling of getting justice creates positivity and that is why the entire population of the state is hailing it. Justice and the unwavering commitment of the state to it are fundamental to peace and dignity. That alone inspire confidence among all sections, especially the weakest among them and that is how the guarantees enshrined in the Constitution can be translated into reality”.
Omar Abdullah, another former chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah while welcoming the court verdict said, “The guilty deserve the most severe punishment possible under law. And to those politicians who defended the accused, vilified the victim & threatened the legal system no words of condemnation are enough”.
The National Commission for Women also sought harshest punishment for the convicts.
However, the BJP termed the court verdict a “flawed judgement” and said it could be challenged in the higher court. “The verdict is flawed as the court has acquitted the ‘main accused’ while others have been convicted,” said party’s state spokesperson on J&K Affairs, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo.
He added that the BJP will accept the decision only if the Supreme Court gives the same verdict.
