Supreme Court transfers Kathua case to Pathankot, Punjab
Follow UsThe Supreme Court has transferred the Kathua case to Pathankot, Punjab.
The Kathua gang rape and murder had shocked the nation.
An eight-year-old Bakarwal girl had been abducted, kept in captivity in a temple, sedated, gang-raped, and finally murdered.
The police have arrested eight people including a juvenile.
The police chargesheet said the accused carried out their premeditated crime to scare the girl's minority community — they're nomads — out of Jammu.
The victim's father had asked the Supreme Court for the case to be transferred out of Jammu. He had told the court that he feared for his family's safety.
The Jammu and Kashmir government had earlier on Monday told the court that it did not want the case transferred out of the state, and that a fair trial would be conducted.
Security is the main concern, we have adequate security in Pathankot: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on transfer of #Kathua case to Pathankot Court pic.twitter.com/z6bzcd9vVk
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2018
The Supreme Court meanwhile has ordered daily in-camera (the public will not be allowed into the courtroom) hearings in the case.
The court also refused to hand the probe over to the CBI saying there was no need for it since the investigation had been conducted and the charge sheet filed.
The victim's father's plea had been heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.