It was on January 10 last year, when a tribal nomad Bakarwal girl went missing while tending to her horses. Seven days later, on January 17, her body was found in a village of the Kathua district.
Sitting in a small house, a middle-aged shepherd shudders with fear when he recalls the day when his eight-year-old daughter was abducted and gang-raped while she was tending her horses in the fields.
Flashbacks of the horrific rape and murder still play in his mind. On an anti-depressants regime, the man is trying hard to run errands to forget the gruesome incident that shocked the nation last year.
It was on January 10 last year, when a tribal nomad Bakarwal girl went missing while tending to her horses. Seven days later, on January 17, her body was found in a village of the Kathua district.
"I can't express my feelings. Hardly has any hour passed when we have not missed her. She was everything for us. She was the chirpiest of all our children. We have not been able to forget her even for a minute since she left us," said the foster father of the victim.
Life changed for the family, which had been living happily in the village Since the child died, there has been no consistency in their life and depression is gradually engulfing them.
"I have consulted a doctor in Pathankot, who has given me medicines to deal with stress. I am taking anti-depressants. I suffer from anxiety and other problems. Everything was fine before that incident. We were living happily, tending to our animals and migrating every six months without any hitch," he said.
Crime Branch had filed a charge sheet against eight people including Sanjhi Ram, a retired revenue official and the alleged mastermind of the crime, his son Vishal Jangotra and his nephew, who is a juvenile. Other accused include Parvesh Kumar alias Mannu, Special Police Officers (SPOs) Deepak Kumar Khajuria alias Deepu, and Surinder Kumar; Sub Inspector of Hiranangar police station Anand Dutta, and head Constable Tilak Raj.
Pain and tribulations notwithstanding, the family is firm that they will not rest until justice is delivered to them. "We have hopes with the courts that my daughter will get justice. Inshallah, I am hopeful that justice will be done. I visited the court a few times and talked to lawyers also. I am confident we will get justice," said the father.
Flashback
It was on January 10 last year, when a tribal nomad Bakarwal girl went missing while tending to her horses. Seven days later, on January 17, her body was found in a village of the Kathua district
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