Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Feb 24: Police today used force to disperse a group of people who were staging protest by blocking a main road demanding arrest of a third accused in gang rape case of a minor in Kathua district.
Under the banner of Jan Jagriti Manch, scores of people today gathered near Mukherjee Chowk in Kathua town against the alleged gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl belonging to the scheduled caste community.
The protesters blocked the main road and refused to disperse despite repeated requests by civil and police officers who assured them that they are making all out efforts to arrest the third culprit. The blockage led to traffic standstill on the busy chowk.
The protesting people said the girl’s family had lodged a complaint with the police in January and subsequently two of the accused were arrested while a third is still on the run. The demonstrators accused the police of deliberate inaction and laxity in investigations, demanding the immediate arrest of the absconding perpetrator.
Despite repeated assurances from senior police and civil officials that efforts were underway to nab the accused, the protestors refused to vacate the road, causing inconvenience to commuters. After multiple appeals failed to pacify the crowd, the police resorted to using force to clear the blockade and restore normalcy.
At least 10 people, including three women, were briefly detained by the police during the operation. However, they were later released. The incident has sparked local outrage, with residents calling for swift justice and stricter action against the culprits.
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