A local Gujjar leader said there were human bites on her body and her legs were broken.
Netizens across Jammu and Kashmir reacted sharply against the alleged rape and murder of an eight year old girl belonging to a nomadic tribe in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Unidentified persons allegedly raped, tortured and killed the eight-year-old girl. Rising Kashmir reported on Thursday, that the child’s body was found on Wednesday morning in Hiranagar area, after locals informed her family.
A woman from Rasana village in Hiranagar last saw the girl, at around 3.30 pm on January 10 when she was taking her horses for water, the daily said. “She did not return home and the family feared she had been abducted. We reached the Hiranagar Police Station on January 12,” an unidentified member of the victim’s family said.
“We have filed a First Information Report. A Special Investigation Team has been constituted,” Jammu Inspector General of Police SD Jamwal told NDTV.
Netizens also drew parallels with Zainab, a minor in Pakistan who was raped and dumped in a garbage site.
Ahmed Touseef wrote, “first Zainab from Pakistan and now Asifa Banoo, a seven year old girl from Kathua who was raped and murdered. Humanity has died. My heart is deeply greived and overwhelmed with pain… #JusticeForAsifa is what we demand.”
Shujaat Bukhari, the editor of Rising Kashmir wrote, “…when one wakes up to know about the horrendous news of kidnapping, rape and killing of 8-year old Asifa Bano in Kathua, this is gruesome incident beyond words. Sadly this savagery has no boundaries. #JusticeForAsifa.”
Guftar Ahmed Chowdhary shared a video of protests in Jammu University. “Jammu University students protest against Kathua Incident where Asifa Bano was kidnapped, raped and murdered,” he wrote.
Reacting to the incident Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday expressed her outrage over the “heinous” murder of the eight-year-old girl.
Mufti took to Twitter to express her resentment and also assured of investigation into the case.
“Outraged by the heinous incident in which a young Bakerwal girl has lost her life. Incidents like this will be investigated expeditiously & the guilty will be punished,” she said.
Outraged by the heinous incident in which a young Bakerwal girl has lost her life. Incidents like this will be investigated expeditiously & the guilty will be punished.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 18, 2018
Earlier on Thursday, opposition parties had staged a walkout from the Legislative Assembly to protest against the murder of the girl of Bakerwal community in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.
As soon as proceedings of the House began, Congress and NC legislators stood up to protest against the murder of the little girl of Kathua. Uproar in the Assembly led to launching an inquiry into the matter. Locals allege that Police responded very late in the matter.
