Kathua rape and murder case: Family members of accused call off hunger strike
Five women relatives of the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case had started a fast unto death protest to press for a CBI probe into the incident.
Family members of the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case have called off their hunger strike, days ahead of the commencement of trial.
Five women relatives of the accused had started a fast unto death protest on March 31 to press for a CBI probe into the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from a nomadic community in Jammu’s Kathua in January.
They called off the strike on Sunday evening.
The crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police had arrested eight persons in connection with the case.
“The decision to end the hunger strike was taken as the day-to-day trial of the case is going to start on May 31... though we will continue with our demand for a CBI probe into the incident through legal means,” Hindu Ekta Manch president Vijay Sharma said on Monday.
The Hindu Ekta Manch was formed by locals who have maintained that those arrested in the case are innocent and are being wrongly implicated.
Sharma said the decision to end the strike was also taken to avoid any untoward incident in view of the scorching heat in the region.
He, however, said the outfit would stage symbolic protests everyday in the town of Kathua till their demand for a CBI probe in the case is met.
The daughter of the main accused, Sanji Ram, had met union minister Jitendra Singh during his visit to the town on Sunday.
The Supreme Court, had on May 7, transferred the case from Jammu and Kashmir to Pathankot, and ordered a day-to-day in-camera trial. The next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for July 9.
