Kathua rape case: We have failed as humans, justice will not be denied, says VK Singh

Amid the opposition's accusation at the Union government of being silent on the Kathua rape case, Union Minister VK Singh has called for justice to the eight-year-old gang-rape victim, who was tortured and murdered by her rapers.

Singh took to Twitter on Thursday to express anguish over the incident that took place in J&K's Kathua and wrote that Asifa, the rape victim, will not be denied justice.

“We have failed Asifa as humans. But she will not be denied justice,” Singh tweeted.

Singh rose in support of Asifa soon after Congress president Rahul Gandhi termed the incident "crime against humanity" and tweeted, “How can anyone protect the culprits of such evil?”

Further targeting the BJP, Gandhi wrote, “What have we become if we allow politics to interfere with such unimaginable brutality perpetrated on an innocent child?”

The minor from Bakherwal nomads community was abducted from near her house on January 10. Her body was recovered on January 17.

During the course of investigation, police learnt that she was kept sedated, hungry and gang-raped multiple times for several days before being strangulated to death. Her perpetrators, to ensure she was dead, crushed her head with a boulder.

According to police records, the minor was raped by at least eight people before being killed. One of the perpetrators, a police officer, asked her killers to wait for while so that he could “satisfy his lust.”  The victim’s perpetrators had also invited a minor to “satisfy his lust” from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.

Two BJP ministers of Jammu and Kashmir had participated in a rally called by a fringe group, Hindu Ekta Manch, in support of the girl’s alleged perpetrators.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, targeting the Mehbooba Mufti-led state government, tweeted, “What rubbish! They are HER ministers, not the Hon PM’s. The way for her to “express her displeasure” is to sack them in Jammu not come & leak her alleged displeasure in Delhi. “

Replying to Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister tweeted, “The Law will not be obstructed by the irresponsible actions & statements of a group of people. Proper procedures are being followed, investigations are on the fast track & justice will be delivered. #JusticeForAsifa.”