Law won’t be allowed to be obstructed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 12: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tonight announced that her Government will bring a new law making death penalty mandatory for those who rape minors and assured the nation that she stands committed for justice to Asifa, an eight year old minor Bakerwal girl, who was raped and murdered at village Rassana in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district.
Mehbooba’s announcement came through couple of tweets tonight following nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of eight year Asifa in January this year. Only a day before, the Crime Branch Jammu had filed chargesheet in the case before the Court in Kathua while challan against a juvenile, who was one of the accused, was filed in the Juvenile Court.
“We will bring a new law that will make the death penalty mandatory for those who rape minors, so that little Asifa’s case becomes the last,” Mehbooba tweeted.
Assuring the nation that she stand committed not just for justice to Asifa but also exemplary punishment to accused, the Chief Minister said the case has shamed the humanity.
“I want to assure the nation that I stand committed not just to ensure justice for Asifa but also seek exemplary punishment for those responsible for a crime, whose brutal savagery has shamed humanity,” she said through another tweet.
She declared that the Government wouldn’t let another child suffer in this way.
Without referring to yesterday’s bandh in which handing over of Rassana rape-cum-murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) was one of the demand, Mehbooba described actions and statements of some of the people as “irresponsible actions”.
“The law will not be obstructed by the irresponsible actions & statements of a group of people. Proper procedures are being followed, investigations are on the fast track & justice will be delivered,” the Chief Minister said through another tweet.
Mehbooba’s significant announcements of making law to give death penalty to those involved in raping the minors and exemplary punishment to the killers of Asifa came after national outrage over the rape and killing of minor wherein several top leaders voiced deep concern over the shameful act.
Meanwhile, National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah immediately reacted to the tweets of Mehbooba Mufti.
“Mehbooba Ji before you try to convince us you will be able to safeguard against future Asifas, what action will you take against your Ministers who supported Asifa’s murderers”?, Omar questioned the Chief Minister on twitter.
He was referring to the visit of Forest Minister Choudhary Lal Singh and Industry & Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga to Hiranagar during which they had supported the demand of CBI probe into the rape and murder of Asifa.
Omar Abdullah lashed out at the Chief Minister for not taking any action against two BJP Ministers who had attended a rally held in support of the persons accused in the case.
“What rubbish! They are Her Ministers, not the Hon(ourable) PM’s. The way for her to express her displeasure is to sack them in Jammu not come & leak her alleged displeasure in Delhi,” Omar wrote on his twitter.
He was responding to tweets by a journalist from a TV channel in which she had said Mehbooba had expressed displeasure over BJP Ministers’ actions in regard with this case.
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