Sringar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, on Tuesday said that hurling of expletives on her by a brother of her former cabinet colleague reflected the “horrid mentality” behind the gang-rape and murder of an 8-year-old nomad girl in the state’s Kathua’s district in January this year.
While reacting to a video in which brother of former forest minister Choudhary Lal Singh could be heard using abusive and derogatory language against her, chief minister Ms Mufti wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter, “I want to thank everyone from across the spectrum for their support & solidarity today. The abusive statement & its diction, reflect the horrid mentality behind the Kathua rape case.”
The J&K police has already registered an FIR against Rajinder Singh after the video in which he can be heard hurling invectives at Ms. Mufti during a rally in Kathua went viral on social media platforms. The police had said on Monday that a case under section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of Ranbir Penal Code and Section 66A of the Information Technology Act was registered against Singh’s brother at a local police station.
Lal Singh is among two BJP ministers in the PDP-BJP government in the State who were asked to resign in the aftermath of their participating in a rally held in Kathua in March in support of the gang-rape and murder accused. On Sunday, he led a massive rally from Lakhanpur to Hiranagar in Kathua district to press for CBI probe into the gory incident.
The 26-second video clip purportedly shot during the 'Dogri Swabhiman' rally shows his younger brother atop a vehicle and using abusive language against the Chief Minister. A group of people on foot can be seen enjoying and clapping in the video as the rally moves.
Former Chief Minister and opposition National Conference working president, Omar Abdullah, had while reacting to the video asked for stern action against Rajinder Singh. He tweeted, “This is absolutely unacceptable language used against Mehbooba Mufti and is unequivocally condemned with the request that Police file an FIR against this abusive individual”.
Director General of Police, Shesh Paul Vaid, said, “We have registered a case against him (Rajinder Singh) after receiving a complaint. Investigations are underway and action warranted under law will be taken against him”.
