These revelations, allegedly brought to light during the interrogation of the accused, form the basis of the chargesheet the Jammu & Kashmir police crime branch filed Monday.
New Delhi: As she was allegedly raped repeatedly at a local temple in Jammu’s Kathua district this January, the eight-year-old victim, it is said, could offer little resistance as she had been sedated with an anti-anxiety drug.
She is thought to have opened her eyes every now and then during the assault, but the impact of the drug kept her from reacting. So strong was the dosage administered to the young girl that it is believed to have kept her hanging by a thread for days before she was actually killed.
On 14 January, four days after she was abducted while grazing her family’s ponies, the 8-year old was allegedly strangulated.
These and other ghastly details, police claim, were revealed by the two men and a juvenile who are the main suspects and have been arrested for the crime that has shaken Jammu and Kashmir and caused a communal divide in the Jammu region.
The details form the basis of the chargesheet the Jammu & Kashmir police crime branch filed in Kathua late on Monday. Local lawyers had prevented police from filing it in court earlier in the day, accusing them of bias and indicating the strong passions the case has flamed.
Police are likely to charge three of the seven accused, all in prison, with gang rape, making them liable for the death sentence if convicted of murder too. Other charges invoked include illegal confinement, conspiracy and destruction of evidence, sources said.
The juvenile has to be charged under a separate chargesheet.
The plot
The rape and murder of the 8-year old has assumed communal overtones and fed a raging controversy in an area said to be deeply polarised. And it’s these deep fault lines that allegedly lie at the heart of this sordid saga. The child’s abduction and murder, according to police, was part of a plot to drive out members of her community from a village named Rasana.
The protagonists of this alleged plot include Sanjhi Ram, the suspected mastermind, who is a former revenue official and local strongman; his son Vishal Kumar, a college student; police officer Deepak Khajuria; Ram’s 16-year-old nephew who is the juvenile, and his friend Parvesh Kumar.
A tribal, the 8-year old was a member of the nomadic Bakerwal community. In his confession, Vishal is alleged to have told police that the victim’s only fault was that “she was born in a family of Bakerwals”.
Sources said the idea to “teach the Bakerwals a lesson” allegedly started taking shape around November last year, against a backdrop of regular skirmishes between local Hindus and Bakerwals over land trespass and encroachment in Rasana and other nearby Kathua villages.
According to police, Sanjhi began planning the crime in December. As partners, he chose his juvenile nephew and Khajuria, 28 — a calculated choice, according to police, given the duo’s “grudge” against the community.
The juvenile had allegedly been beaten up by the Bakerwals earlier for reportedly teasing a girl of the community, while Khajuria found himself in frequent arguments and fights with the community over their animals trespassing on his land. Both allegedly sought revenge, and Ram instigated them further. An additional factor at play in getting the nephew on board was the fact that, if caught, he would get off easier on account of his age, police claim.
The crime
According to police, the assailants decided on kidnapping the 8-year old among other Bakerwal children because of her age. Rape, police sources said, was never part of the plan.
By the first week of January, the conspiracy was well in place, and the juvenile and Khajuria had been assigned their respective roles by Ram. While Khajuria had to procure drugs to keep her sedated, the juvenile would kidnap her, police sources allege.
According to police, on 8 and 9 January, the juvenile lay in wait for an opportunity to abduct the girl, but got one only on 10 January. He allegedly heard her voice as she came near his house to graze her family’s ponies, and called his friend Parvesh to help him out. Both of them allegedly misled the girl while she was searching for her animals, and, when she lost her way, forced her to eat a bhang confection readily available in the area, Mannar.
The juvenile then allegedly raped her in the forest before the two carried her to the temple, known locally as ‘Devsthan’, of which Ram is the custodian.
Police sources told ThePrint that the juvenile subsequently informed his cousin Vishal, who was taking his exams at a Meerut university at the time, about the plot. That’s when Vishal reportedly returned to Rasana.
On 11 January, the 8-year old was allegedly given a high dosage of clonazepam — a drug used to control seizures and treat anxiety — after a lower-grade sedative failed to keep her sedated for a longer time. According to police, the drug kept her unconscious till the next day. By then, a massive search operation had begun for the child, and the juvenile and Parvesh stayed away from the Devsthan that day.
According to police, on 13 January, the juvenile and Vishal visited the temple and allegedly raped the child. Police sources say Ram, who was outside the temple at the time, “pulled up his son” when he found out about the rape.
The assault continued on 14 January, when she was allegedly raped by the juvenile as well as Khajuria. She was then taken to a culvert and allegedly strangulated with a shawl she was wearing by Khajuria and the juvenile. Her head was also hit against a stone, reportedly later recovered from the spot by police.
According to police, her body was then taken back to the Devsthan. The original plan was to take her body in a car to a nullah, where it would have been washed away, but was instead dumped the next day in the forest.
The ‘destruction of evidence’
DNA tests on hair strands found at the Devsthan as well as the girl’s body have confirmed her presence at the temple, as well as the juvenile’s at the site her body was found.
According to police sources, post-mortem tests have indicated damage to private parts as well as injuries to her uterus, findings considered to be “clinching evidence” of sexual assault.
Police are awaiting two other forensic reports to prove the presence of the accused at the site of the crime.
However, it has been alleged that much of the evidence, including the victim’s vaginal slides, was destroyed by the police officers who investigated the case before it was handed over to the crime branch.
Two police personnel, Tilak Raj and Anand Dutta, from the Hiranagar police station, where Khajuria was posted as well, were arrested over suspicions that they washed the 8-year old blood- and mud-soaked clothes before sending them for forensic tests.
Sources said Ram had allegedly paid the two around Rs 4 lakh to destroy evidence, adding that a forensic lab in Delhi had confirmed her clothes were washed before they received it.
Turmoil in Kathua
The crime has stoked communal passions in the politically sensitive Jammu region.
The arrest of the accused has triggered demonstrations in Kathua and neighbouring areas amid claims that the investigation was unfair and there have been demands for a CBI investigation. They are led by a new group called ‘Hindu Ekta Manch’ and backed by BJP leaders Lal Singh Chaudhary and Chander Prakash Ganga — both ministers in the state’s PDP-BJP government.
At least four women from Rasana have been on an indefinite hunger strike, including the mother of one of the accused, over the past 10 days to protest against the “wrongful arrests”.
The Hindu Ekta Manch is led by Kant Kumar, former sarpanch of Kootah, who claimed they had definitive evidence to prove the investigations were unfair.
“Several of those who were called for questioning have told us that they were forced to confess under extreme pressure by police,” Kumar told ThePrint, adding that “the truth will come to light very soon”.
The Manch is going to launch a protest Wednesday against the arrests and block the national highway.
The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association (Jammu) has joined the stir too, protesting since 4 April to demand a CBI investigation into the case, as demanded by the manch. It has called for a Jammu bandh Wednesday.
In a statement, the bar association has put forth other demands too, including the “deportation of illegally settled immigrants in and around Jammu”. According to sources, the association may also file a PIL to seek a stay on the crime branch’s investigation into the case.
The association has alleged that the coalition government had “deliberately created a hostile situation in an attempt to…disturb the harmonious atmosphere and character of Jammu region”, adding that its demands are “in the interest of the safety, security and peaceful survival of the nationalist people of Jammu region”.
The Hurriyat had also released a statement earlier, which said that Jammu’s Muslim community was being subjected “to severe harassment” and demanded stringent action against those involved in the heinous crime.
Some illiterate and uneducated people are blaming government for such a shameful crime. Verdict has come and looks like J&K crime branch has forcefully caused the accused to prove guilty. As they tried to prove guilt to one of the accused who was not in the city even. I totally smell a rat and hope that CBI investigation only can be reliable.
I hope these bastards rott in hell look at there bindis on there foreheads they are twisted freaks who need to be shot I can’t think what that poor innocent girl has been put through may Allah tallah make it easier for their parents
I don’t know what our government does…illiterate and uneducated people are running India a nation that talks about Peace not but these swines believe in “piece” not “peace “..
I ask…who the hell are these people who don’t even do justice and don’t understand the difference between humanity and inhumanity…Laws should not be just implemented but should also be applied…Our govt is blind folded which does even know that there is one clear punishment for this devil act which is death…shame on our govt that can’t even take action against these swines…its been a long time since this act came into light and still the culprits are not hanged…Its not just about one Asifa, it could also b ashmita, it could also be maria and it could also be gurmeet…its time for us to fight against our govt so that we can Fight against the devils and get justice…..
I am undergoing severe depression during past couple of days due to this Kathua case. I am no way connected to this child. I am a Hindu, Tamil living in far away London. This is an unbearable pain for me. This is truly a crime against humanity.
Hang them with no food no water nothing , let them die in a pain which was felt by that innocent child. Must set an example. Record their death and show that video at regular intervals.
Hot iron rod should be inserted to the bastard men.Hanging is Avery small punishment for them.They should have the same pain which those bastard given to the innocent child.This kanoon should not be andhe kanoon.
My heart is shattered Nd sallowen by her grief dear child you must get justice those barbaric Inhumans must be hanged.
I think there is no God no Shiva no Jesus and no allaha .otherwise this little girl would have saved. Please hand over the culprit to the terrorist and they will give correct punishment. Bloody shame on the Hindus in Kashmir. If Hindus are good Please unite for the little one for justice they should get the maximum punishment cut there private part and put chilly powder burn with acid. Last Indian law is worst f*** it .
Offcouce they should burn alive
Revenge rape in a temple. Read that a 100 times. Revenge Rape In A Temple. In a temple, a 8 yr old was raped as revenge. Raped for revenge in a temple. A temple. A temple was the site of a revenge rape on a child. They did this in a temple. A temple. I am ashamed of my Hindu religion. I fear for my Hindu gods in whose name this was done. In a temple. A child, revenge, in a temple. Let that sink in. A temple. It is the single most blackest day for Hindus. It will take ages to undo this, and we ll still never be able to bring back the child from dead. All because of grazing trespassing? A child was raped for revenge in a temple because we were insecure about a piece of land? When will people understand – they live for 70-80 years, this land is not going anywhere for million years. Noone can own land. Noone can possess it. Noone has the right to stake claim to land. And noone, noone has the right to lay a finger on a child for this. If there are Hindu gods, and there are some, these men will face the wrath of gods and be punished for what they ve done. They raped and killed a child of 8 in a temple. A temple.
It is unimaginable that the rapists nay beasts and monsters commited this act in a temple.Four of the rapists are policemen. What justice can we expect where the persons supposed to uphold the law and protect the common man is commiting such heniuos and horrific act.Also, Lawyers are supporting the rapists by obstructing justice.What have we come to? LAwyers supporting rapists?Do they have no daughters? OR is it because they have been communally brainwashed that they cannot see the inhuman and despicable crime.Even 2 elected representatives supported the Rapists.these MLA’s should be punished for supporting this ghastly act.
So we see, police, lawyers, politicians all come together to support Rapists because they belong to the majority community.
Law has gone to the Dogs.And all this happens in a Temple.A temple.
You biased medias , why don’t you guys ask for a CBI inquiry ?? And those who ask you term them as rapist supporters ?? How many crores have you got from mufti ?? Why don’t you disclose the first report and why don’t you disclose the reality of Irfan wani the police officer who is in charge??
Well cbi has to investigate whatever but rape is rape and they will be caught.He thinks that bjp is trying to save thesse rapists because of their religion .The same manch is saying about cbi invrstigation to show the men are innocent .Because if they resist then they will be caught.This news doesnt say no cbi investigation thats the whole thinking he might be going with .If he said something doesnt mean he is payed by someone.If u want you can complain about him and write a letter to Amit Shah.He will take care .If there is money and a reciept or any evidence on the phone pointing to what you say then he will be arrested.Do not judge the man.Write a petiton to stop paying people or investigatimg whoever is deemed worthy of it on the basis of what they said.