Their statement came the same day the Supreme Court sought their response on the incident and warned lawyers against disrupting the process of law.
New Delhi: The bar association for Kathua district, accused of trying to prevent the J&K police crime branch from filing one of their two chargesheets in the alleged gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old, say they have been misrepresented by the media.
Their statement came the same day the Supreme Court sought the bar association’s response, with notices also issued to the Bar Council of India, J&K Bar Council and the J&K Bar Association, on the incident and warned lawyers against disrupting the process of law.
On Monday, a group of lawyers from the Bar Association Kathua had created a ruckus and shouted slogans on court premises as a crime branch team arrived to file the chargesheet, delaying the process by over six hours. The protest, caught on camera, was part of a larger campaign to get the case transferred to the CBI amid allegations of a biased probe against the state police.
In a statement released Friday, the Bar Association Kathua said they wanted a “fair trial by the CBI… so that (the child) does not become just another victim of the separatist politics”.
The statement also sought to raise questions on the credibility of a member of the crime branch team investigating the case, citing allegations of rape and murder against him. However, they ignored the fact that the officer was acquitted of all charges years ago.
Blaming the national media for not showing their side of the story, the association denied having obstructed the filing of the chargesheet, saying they had only carried out “peaceful protests”. They also denied any “direct or indirect association with the self-styled Hindu Ekta Manch”.
In a separate statement, the J&K High Court Bar Association (Jammu) said the state government had failed to protect the family of the Kathua victim, and sought monetary compensation for them.
Association chief B.S. Slathia said in the statement that members would carry out a candlelight march Saturday evening at 6 pm “in memory of the victim and to pay respectful homage to the departed soul”.
“It was further reiterated in the (J&K Bar Association) meeting that demanding CBI investigation in the… case does not tantamount to shielding the real accused… The real intention was to provide justice to the victim by fair and independent probe,” it stated.
On Friday, an SC bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said it was unethical to prevent the filing of a chargesheet, also criticising the alleged threats issued to the lawyer representing the victim’s family.
The bench also took note of the fact that the J&K High Court Bar Association (Jammu) had passed a resolution to protest and not attend court, saying “it is solemn duty of the bar to not create obstruction”.
I m sorry but I immediately sense mischief in this demand for getting the CBI into this. The CBI’s credibility and independence is highly suspect under this government. It would be disastrous if they furnish a clean chit in this case, ending all hope of justice. It is pretty clear that the child was tortured, raped and murdered to scare away a community. The police have done their jobs. If CBI muddies this, I can assure you, the country will never forgive these mischief makers. Noone misunderstood them. Everybody saw clearly how the lawyers sought to protect the dastardly criminals.
Shri B S Slathia leading a candlelight procession to pay homage to the departed soul is a very welcome development.