Taking up suo moto the brutal gang-rape-and-murder of an innocent 8-year old Kashmiri Gujjar community girl Asifa Bano, that too inside a Hindu temple, the Supreme Court of India has issued notices to Bar Council of India as well as the Jammu & Kashmir Bar Council to respond on the issue.

The gang-rape of an 8-year old Gujjar girl by seven persons – including four cops and a juvenile and that too for a period of a few days – has shocked the conscience of the entire nation and reminds many of the ‘Nirbhaya’ gang-rape which took place in Delhi more than three years back.  The incident, which took place on 17th January in Kashmir’s Kathua Distrit, has come to light only now.

Taking up the case suo moto, the Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Jammu & Kashmir Bar Council as well as to the Bar Council of India amid reports that lawyers in Jammu attempted to ‘prevent’ the police from filing charge-sheets against the accused, as the victim belonged to a nomadic tribe.  The apex Court has sought explanation by 19th April (next Thursday) on the above-said incident of lawyers blocking policemen from discharging their duties.

J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, ordered an investigation by the crime branch, a special unit of the state police only on 23rd January, 6 days after Asifa's body was found.

Sanji Ram, a 60-year-old retired Govt. officer, allegedly planned the crime with the help of police officers Surender Verma, Anand Dutta, Tilak Raj and Khajuria.  Ram's son, Vishal, his nephew, a juvenile, and his friend, Parvesh Kumar, are also accused over the rape and murder. Police have arrested eight men, including a retired government official, four police officers and a juvenile in connection with Asifa's death.