Rape, murder of minor sisters extremely painful: Prithviraj Chavan

Rape, murder of minor sisters extremely painful: Prithviraj Chavan

IANS

February 20, 11:36 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1802053

Mumbai: Appealing for calm and cooperation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Wednesday said the incident of the three minor sisters who went missing and were later found raped and murdered was "extremely deplorable and painful".

"The incident is extremely deplorable and painful. I appeal to the people to maintain calm and cooperate with the law-enforcers," Chavan said in a statement.

Chavan also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs10 lakh to the family of three minor sisters, who went missing, and later found raped, murdered and their bodies dumped in a well in Bhandara district, about 65 km from Nagpur, the state's second capital in eastern Maharashtra.

Home Minister RR Patil had earlier announced the suspension of Prakash Munde, chief of the Lakhni police station, under whose jurisdiction the crime was committed.

The girls -- aged 6, 9 and 11 -- were subjected to unnatural sex, according to an autopsy. A manhunt has been launched against the unknown perpetrators.

Police have formed 12 special teams to probe the crime, which left union Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel visibly stunned Tuesday after he visited the mother of the three girls at her home in Lakhni village, around 115 km from Bhandara town.

"As a father of three daughters, I am appalled at the atrocity committed on these girls. I have raised the matter with the chief minister to ensure financial assistance to the widow, speedy investigation and a fast track trial of the accused," Patel said.

According to officials, the three girls did not return from school last Thursday (Feb 14) and their mother lodged a missing complaint at the Lakhni police station.

Two days later, some villagers discovered their brutalised bodies from a well near Murmadi, around three kilometres from their village, following which the local police registered a case of 'accidental death'.

It was only after the villagers took to the streets, blocked traffic and protested outside the police station that a case of murder, kidnapping and rape was lodged.

 

Pakistani Shia refuses to bury dead; want army control over Quetta

Pakistani Shia refuses to bury dead; want army control over Quetta

Rezaul H Laskar / PTI

February 18, 21:54 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1801351

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's minority Shia Hazara community on Monday refused to bury victims of a devastating bombing in Quetta that claimed 89 lives till the army takes control of the southwestern city to prevent terror attacks.

Thousands of Shias joined a protest with the bodies of some of the 89 people killed in Saturday's attack at Hazara Town in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province.

The banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the bombing.

A bomb containing hundreds of kilogrammes of explosives ripped through a crowded market in Hazara Town on Saturday.

Many women and children were among the dead. About 200 people were injured by the blast, which flattened several buildings. The death toll in the attack went up to 89 on Monday after four more people succumbed to their injuries.

Leaders of the Shia Hazara community, which has been repeatedly targeted by sectarian groups like the LeJ, gave the government a 48-hour ultimatum to launch an army operation against terrorists.

They accused elements of the security establishment of sheltering the militants.

Quetta police chief Wazir Khan Nasir said officials were engaged in negotiations with the Shia leaders to convince them to bury their dead.

However, Shia leader Qayyum Changezi said the protesters would not bury the dead "until a targeted operation is launched" against terrorists.

Syed Muhammad Hadi, a spokesman for an alliance of Shia groups, said the community wanted security in Quetta to be handed over to the army and targeted operations against terrorists and their supporters.

Pakistan's biggest city and financial hub Karachi was paralysed on Monday after a series of sit-ins by Shia groups and incidents of violence in several areas to protest the deadly bomb attack in Quetta. Police and rangers had to resort to shelling and water cannons in some areas.

Meanwhile, a large number of Shias, including women and children, also refused to end their sit-in outside Governor's House in Lahore against the killing of Shia Hazaras in Quetta.

The protesters said their agitation would continue till security in Quetta was handed over to the army.