2018 witnessed the brutal rape of an eight-year-old girl in J&K’s Kathua region. Nationwide protests to demand justice for the child broke out in massive numbers and eight people were arrested.
Out of the eight, one was let go of due to lack of evidence and six have been found guilty.
Following is the timeline of the events that unfolded after the crime took place.
January 10, 2018
An eight-year-old girl of the Bakarwal tribe goes missing in Rasana village of the Kathua district in J&K while grazing her cattle.
January 12, 2018
An FIR is lodged by the girl’s father at Hiranagar police station.
January 17, 2018
The police discovers the girl’s body and the post mortem determines gang rape and murder. Eight accused are identified and arrested.
January 22, 2018
The case is handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir crime branch due to the villagers claiming that the local police and administration have displayed incompetency in handling the case.
February 16, 2018
Protests by a right-wing Hindu activist group, Hindu Ekta Manch, break out in favour of one of the accused.
April 9, 2018
An 18-page charge sheet is filed before the Kathua court against seven of the eight accused.
April 10, 2018
The police file a charge sheet against the eight accused after filing an FIR against lawyers for protesting and becoming an obstacle in the way of crime branch officials who were trying to file the charge sheet in court.
April 16, 2018
Trial begins in the Kathua court. All eight accused plead ‘not guilty’ before the judge.
May 7, 2018
The Supreme Court shifts the case from Kathua to Pathankot, Punjab.
June 10, 2019
Six out of the eight are found guilty of rape and murder.
The sentences for the accused will be announced soon today.
