Hindu Ekta Manch, led by BJP leader, waves Tricolour in support of Kathua rape accused

The right-wing Hindu Ekta March, led by Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) state secretary, staged a protest in Jammu’s Kathua district demanding release of a special police officer (SPO) accused of raping and murdering an eight-year old nomad girl.

What is really unfortunate is the sight seen in the video of the rally which has gone viral.

In the rally held on February 15, the protesters can be seen carrying the Indian tricolour while marching in support of the accused, Deepak Khajuria.

Khajuria, posted at Hiranagar police station in Kathua, was arrested by the state crime branch on February 10 after clinching evidence was found against him in this gruesome crime.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, appalled by the protests in support of a rape accused termed the use of the flag “as nothing short of desecration”.

She tweeted, “Appalled by the marches & protests in defense of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their use of our national flag in these demonstrations, this is nothing short of desecration,” Mehbooba tweeted. “The accused has been arrested & the law will follow its course.”

8-year-old Aasiya, went missing on January 10 when she had taken the family’s horses to a nearby pond.

A week later, her body was spotted by locals in a nearby forest.

Vijay Sharma, who according to information on the state BJP’s website is the party’s state secretary, defended the protest. “He (Khajuria) has been falsely implicated. More than 5,000 people participated in the rally,” Sharma claimed, talking to The Wire on phone.

How utterly sad is the part that the ones who claim to be so-called nationals and hold “respect” for women are the same who are stooping down to this level to save a person accused of committing such a heinous crime.

Credit: The Wire