Srinagar, Aug 9: While expressing serious concern over the reports of alleged torture in police custody of Talib Hussain, the activist who has been fighting for justice in Kathua gang-rape and murder of eight-year-old nomad girl, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Thursday urged the government to ensure the safety and security of Hussain and ensure that he is not tortured while in police custody.
The relatives of Talib have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court alleging that he was being targeted for championing the cause of the nomad community and received life-threatening injuries during the torture in custody. “It is unfortunate that such incidents are happening, where a whistleblower is becoming a victim because some unscrupulous elements are heel bent to hush up the original rape case of minor innocent girl.”
According to media reports, the cases, which have filed by the police against Talib seem to be fabricated. The rape allegations have been leveled against him in Samba when, according to his relatives, he was in Srinagar for more than two months and never visited Jammu during that period. As witnesses, they cite two police guards, who had been deployed for his protection.
Talib is a key witness in brutal gang-rape and murder of Kathua nomad girl and it is duty of the government to protect him. There are complaints that Taib became the target of police and right wing groups in Jammu ever since he started campaign for justice in Kathua case.The CPI(M) leader asserted and added that in a democratic set up such shameful incidents should not happen and should be condemned by all. Some fringe elements in Jammu who are giving communal colour to Kathua rape case.
He also appealed the court hearing Kathua case to speed up the trial proceedings so that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are punished without any delay as their barbaric has crime has torn apart the heart and soul of all those who have a humane spirit.
