Rape, murder of 8-year-old girl, people still talking about Hindu and Muslim
Rape, murder of 8-year-old girl in Rasana village of Kathua district Ever since they began living in the tiny Rasana village of Kathua district around four decades ago, the Bakarwal tribe has had tough relations with the Hindu villagers. They allege that Hindu men have been trying to force them out of the village by misbehaving with their girls and kicking around vessels they use to collect water. On the other hand, the Hindus say the Bakarwal Muslims are making the best efforts to construct a mosque and often graze cattle on land belonging to them. A dispute over the burial of an eight-year-old girl later took a political and communal turn, making matters worse. “On the same day that my granddaughter’s body was found, some Hindus from the village refused to allow the girl’s body to be buried on a land that has been serving as our burial ground for years. We waited for hours before deciding to bury her in another part of the village late in the night,” alleged the girl’s grandmother. The Hindus of the village, however, said the land was a disputed private property and they ensured arrangements for the burial elsewhere. “We were not treated with respect even during a tragedy involving a child,” said Mohammad Shafi, a Bakarwal who readied to leave for the mountains. “If our cattle ventured into land belonging to Hindus, they would use sharp weapons to maim our animals. Does an animal know the difference between a Hindu and Muslim property?” said the murdered girl’s grandfather. After the girl’s murder, both sides have been vocal about the crime. A few days ago, Hindus formed a “non-political” group called the ‘Hindu Ekta Manch’. “We don’t want the situation politicised, but we will stand united for our own safety,” said Suresh Sharma, a villager. -PTC News
