Advocate Deepika Singh Rajwat, who appears on behalf of 8-year old Kashmiri Muslim Gujjar girl Asifa Bano who was brutally gang-raped and murdered by 8 persons, has moved the Jammu & Kashmir High Court seeking protection to save her life as she is threatened by ‘vested’ interests from fighting the case.

Kathua and Unnao (Uttar Pradesh) rape incidents have been the headlines last week, ironically, as they once again brought to the fore the insecurity prevalent in Indian society. Deepika, who appears keen to ensure social justice is meted out to the girl’s family by getting the criminals punished, has told newsmen that she was being threatened by fellow lawyers to mind her business and not indulge in such things.

8 persons including four cops and a juvenile and a retired Govt. staff (who was the ‘mastermind’ of this dastardly crime) have been taken into custody even as cries of ‘hang them’ have been renting the air across the country as social activists and NGOs including Jammu-based Christian organizations have demanded that the persons involved in the crime be hanged in public so that such crimes are not repeated.

Speaking to a news television, channel, the bespectacled Deepika presented a picture of determination when she said she won’t rest until justice is meted out.  “I have been threatened by fellow lawyers as well as the Bar Council of Jammu & Kashmir president Bhupinder Singh for appearing in the case representing Asifa.  I have requested the High Court to ensure my protection when I appear to argue the case,” she told the channel and added that she won’t be cowed down by threats.

On another noted, Deepika said that there was no need for a CBI inquiry in the case as the investigation and judicial trial are proceeding in the right direction.