'Protect Kathua rape victim's kin, lawyer'

New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed the Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday to provide security to the family of the eight-year-old Kathua gangrape and murder victim, their lawyer and a family friend assisting them in prosecuting the case. The apex court also took note of a plea of the victim's father seeking transfer of the trial of the case from Kathua, preferably to Chandigarh and sought response of the state government.

During the hearing, the victim's father expressed satisfaction with the probe so far, conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Police and opposed the plea for CBI investigation demanded by others. "Be that as it may, we do not intend to enter into this sphere (transfer of case to CBI) at this stage," a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said, while taking note of the submission that the victim's father was satisfied with the police probe so far.

The bench also took note of the apprehension with regard to the security and asked the state to provide adequate security personnel, in plain clothes to the victim's family, their lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat and family friend Talid Hussain.

"As an interim measure, it is directed that the Jammu and Kashmir Police to beef up the security and provide adequate security personnel to the family, Deepika Singh Rajawat and family friend Talid Hussain," the bench said.

It also sought response of the state government by April 27, the next date of hearing, to the specific prayer that the trial in the case be transferred out of Kathua court to Chandigarh in view of the communally surcharged atmosphere prevailing in Jammu town.

The victim's lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat on Monday stated that she is being labelled an 'anti-Hindu' and facing social boycott for taking up the case. "I can be raped, I can be killed and may be they won't allow me to practice in court."