Kathua rape, murder case verdict today

All eyes in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere are on Punjab’s Pathankot Court as it prepares to give a verdict on the rape and murder of an eight-year-old nomadic  girl in Kathua on Monday. Both Defence and the prosecution have completed the arguments and the court will be announcing the verdict today.Elaborate security arrangements have been made in and around the court and in Kathua in view of the pronouncement of the judgment, reports quoting official said. The situation will be monitored closely by the officials, they said. In Kashmir Valley, schools and colleges besides varsities are closed in wake of the holiday on account of Kheer Bhawani Mela. Meanwhile ,the latest developments in the case are emerging from the court room in Pathankot:

All seven accused summoned inside courtroom

The seven out of eight accused have been summoned inside the courtroom in the Pathankot court according to protocol of the In-camera trial. Anti-riot vehicles have also been deployed outside the court.

 Security forces are anticipating protests after judgment

The Punjab Police are anticipating protests after the pronouncement of the verdict in the Kathua rape and murder case, hence additional and tightened security has been deployed around the Pathankot court complex and Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir.

Accused’s families have arrived in court ahead of verdict

The main accused, Sanji Ram’s sister Madhu has arrived at Pathankot special court ahead of the verdict pronouncement.