Kathua rape case: SC asks Jammu and Kashmir govt to protect victim's kin, lawyer

Supreme Court

Jammu and Kashmir government has been instructed by the Supreme Court on Monday to provide protection to the family of the eight-year-old Kathua gangrape and murder victim, the lawyer and a family friend helping them in pursuing the case.

The apex court also took note of a plea of the victim's father seeking transfer of the trial of the case from Kathua, preferably to Chandigarh and sought response of the state government.

During the hearing, the victim's father expressed satisfaction with the probe so far, conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Police and opposed the plea for CBI investigation demanded by others.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud asked the state police to provide adequate security at the observation home where a juvenile accused has been kept and fixed the next date of hearing on April 27.

The bench said those policemen providing security to the victim's family and others will be in plain clothes.

Edited by mid-day online desk, with inputs from PTI