Protest rallies against accused, supporters of suspects continue unabated in valley

Srinagar: The protest rallies against Kathua rape and murder case across India including Kashmir have flared up even as lawyers in Delhi staged a protest demanding suspension of licenses to those layers of Jammu and Kathua Bar Association who defended rapists and murderers of Bakarwal girl Asifa.
Students, professionals, lawyers and people affiliated with different fields staged protest marches demanding justice for Asifa.
The protests were held at Kashmir University, SKUAST, Degree College Islamabad, CD Hospital Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir High Court and other places.
High Court Bar Association led by president Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom held a march from Court premises to clock tower Lal Chowk. The lawyers were carrying placards and banners seeking justice for Asifa. The protesting lawyers chanted slogans against BJP, RSS, Jammu and Kathua Bar Associations and demanded disqualification of BHP leaders Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga.
“Some goons affiliated with communal RSS and BJP are trying to give a communal colour to Asifa rape and murder case. Such elements need to be taken to task. Even action should be initiated against BS Slathia, president Jammu Bar Association,” Mian Qayoom in his address said.
Demanding stringent punishment for the Kathua lawyers defending rape accused, private college students here in Srinagar also staged a protest.
The Vitasta Law College Nowgam students amid rains organized a protest demanding strict action against lawyers in Jammu who according to them brought shame to their profession.
“It is shameful act on part of Jammu and Kathua lawyers to defend rape and murder accused of Asifa. They should be taken to task while Bar Council should suspend their licences,” the students said.
The Law students carrying placards and banners demanded speedy trial to get the accused hanged.
Massive protest was held by scholars and students at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology. Thousands of protesters while denouncing the rape and murder of Asifa demanded action not only against accused but also against those who defend the accused.
The students from Central University Sonwar Campus also held a protest in Press Enclave Srinagar. Both male and female students waved placards and shouted slogans against Jammu Bar Association.
Thousands of students from various educational institutions including students from Government Degree College Doda in Chenab Valley also staged a strong protest, demanding justice for Asifa who was brutally raped and murdered in Village Rasana of Jammu’s Kathua District.
The students were seen holding placards in their hands, depicting different messages calling for justice in the case of Asifa’s rape and murder case.
The protesting students said that aim of holding this protest was to draw attention towards the violence against women all over world, while a female student, demanded that the culprits of this heinous crime be hanged till death besides demanded a fair investigation into the incident.
Raising different slogans, the protesting students demanded stern punishment to culprits to the extent that in future no one dares to do such a shameful act.
Students at Bhadarwah also staged massive protest against the rape and murder of Asifa.
Irrigation Employees Federation and PHE Employees Forum organized a protest at Rajbagh. The employees resorted to massive sloganeering demanding capital punishment for rape and murder accused. The protest was led by President Irrigation Employees Federation and PHE Employees Forum, Farooq Ahmed Khan.
Police used tear gas shells on protesting students in Pattan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Reports said that a large number of students hit to roads and staged protest seeking justice for Asifa. They reportedly tried to enforce a shutdown while police lobbed tear-smoke shells to disperse them.
All J&K Ladakh students Association held a massive protest at Residency Road Srinagar. Hundreds of male and female students assembled near Regal Chowk disrupting traffic for some time. They resorted to massive sloganeering and demanded stringent punishment for those involved in heinous crime. They also chanted slogans against Jammu and Kathua Bar Associations and appealed Bar Council of India to take action against those defending rape and murder accused of Asifa.
Protest was also staged by traders and civil society members of Bandipora.