Life Remains Unchanged for Kathua Rape Victim’s Parents Even after the Verdict

Indian masses heaved a sigh of relief when the sessions court in Pathankot sentenced the men who were guilty of raping a minor Muslim girl in Kathua last year. The Kathua rape case had shaken India when it came to light last year. The public came to hear about the case in April even though the rape took place in January. People were shocked at the manner the crime was committed. One couldn’t fathom that a child could be tortured in such a ghastly manner, all because of religious differences.

When the verdict was announced on Monday, ironically the victim’s mother was unaware of the good news. According to a BBC reporter, the mother was seen at a hilltop alongside her elder daughter and other members of the family. They were surrounded by sheep and goats that were busy grazing.

When the news was announced to her, the mother's joys knew no bounds. She began to cry. She also blessed the rep who gave her the good news. “I have always believed in justice and God gave me the strength to fight for it,” she said. Due to poverty, the victim’s family couldn’t go to Pathankot to hear the verdict. She revealed that selling livestock was the only source of income for them.

The father knew that the verdict was to be announced on Monday, but he couldn’t gather the courage to go to the court as he knew that he would have to hear about the horrific incident again and again. “Mujhe baar baar yaad aati hai” he sadly admitted. He was surprised that one person was not held guilty. “Par tasalli nahin hui (We are not completely satisfied). “Sabko sazaa milni chahiye thi.” (All should have been punished).

The mother said that if the two main accused don’t receive death sentence: “We will not eat or drink but we will get justice for our daughter.” After what happened to her younger sister, the elder sister lives in constant fear. She doesn’t leave home without the presence of an elder person. In fact, the entire tribe lives in fear and don’t allow their children to wander far.

The parents belong to ‘Bakarwal’ which is a muslim nomadic tribe and has a population of 60,000 in Jammu and Kashmir. They wander along highways and forest routes and earn a living by rearing and trading sheep and goats.

With no fault of theirs, the parents had to undergo the pains of a horrific ordeal of losing their daughter. The manner in which she was raped and killed is unimaginable. To top it the victim’s family lives in poverty and fear. It would be truly commendable if the government could uplift their family in any manner.

Sixty-year-old Sanjhi Ram who is a retired government officer, police officers -Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar have been given life sentences while the other three have been awarded five-year sentences. Sanjhi Ram’s son was acquitted in this case.

Though the victim’s parents are happy to hear the verdict, they are not completely satisfied. Their only desire is that the culprits must be hanged. The parents pass each day living with old and fond memories of their innocent daughter. The mother expressed, “We keep thinking about her day and night. Now we fear even in these mountains, which are green and peaceful and have been our abode.”