Kathua Case Gets Complicated

A star lawyer’s removal and rape charges against a key witness complicate the Kathua case

- Tariq Bhat

The rape and murder of an eight-year-old Bakarwal girl from Kathua in January left millions shocked and led to widespread protests across the country. But, eight months after the case was transferred to a special trial court in Pathankot by the Supreme Court on the request of the victim's biological father, lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat and Bakarwal rights activist Talib Hussain who led the campaign for justice, have been sidelined.

On November 14, the victim's foster father filed an application in the Pathankot court to remove Rajawat from the case. Sources said Rajawat had attended just two of nearly 100 hearings in the case. “I knew something was going on against me,” said Rajawat. She said she had taken up the case pro bono. “If I go to Pathankot regularly, then my work will suffer. That was why I could not afford to participate in the trial proceedings,” she said.