Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said that she was appalled to see people staging protests in defence of a rapist in Jammu holding India’s national flags.
She said, “Appalled by the marches & protests in defense of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their (protesters’) use of our national flag in these demonstrations, this is nothing short of desecration,”
Appalled by the marches & protests in defense of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their use of our national flag in these demonstrations, this is nothing short of desecration. The accused has been arrested & the law will follow its course.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 16, 2018
She expressed the same sentiment in an identical tweet, posted in Urdu. Journalists Nazir Masoodi had first tweeted the photos of Hindu Ekta Manch workers using the Indian national flags to protest in favour of an alleged rapist.
Massodi wrote, “SHAME. Hindu Ekta Munch protest march in support of the accused in brutal rape & murder of 8 year Ashifa in Kathua.They shamelessly carry national flag & police are seen escorting them.Things can’t get more horrible than this.”
SHAME. Hindu Ekta Munch protest march in support of the accused in brutal rape & murder of 8 year Ashifa in Kathua.They shamelessly carry national flag & police are seen escorting them.Things can’t get more horrible than this. pic.twitter.com/fXOiEc4s0r
— Nazir Masoodi نذیرمسعودی (@nazir_masoodi) February 15, 2018
Members of a Hindutva outfit, Hindu Ekta Manch, had staged a protest in defence of the arrested Special Police Officer Deepak Khujaria. Deepak was arrested for raping and murdering an eight-year-old child’s rape. The news of the child’s rape by Deepak had sent shock-waves across the world. The matter had also dominated the budget sessions of the assembly, where the opposition leaders alleged that police was trying to save the culprit.
The 8-year-old child was last kidnapped, raped and killed in January last month when she was was taking her horses for waterin Rasana village in Hiranagar.
The Hindu Ekta Manch has warned of more agitation if Deepak, the alleged rapist, wasn’t released. Meanwhile, the BJP, which is an alliance partner is the Jammu and Kashmir government, has distanced from the agitation launched by the Hindu Ekta Manch.