The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide security to the family of the eight-year-old Kathua gang-rape and murder victim, their lawyer and a family friend assisting them in prosecuting the case.

The apex court also took note of a plea of the victim’s father seeking transfer of the trial of the case from Kathua, preferably to  Chandigarh, and sought response of the State government.

During the hearing, the victim’s father expressed satisfaction with the probe conducted by J&K Police and opposed the plea for CBI investigation demanded by others.

“Be that as it may, we do not intend to enter into this sphere (transfer of case to CBI) at this stage,” a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said, while taking note of the submission that the victim’s father was satisfied with the police probe so far. The bench also asked the State to provide adequate security personnel, in plain clothes to the victim’s family, their lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawatand family friend Talid Hussain.

Jammu has been on tenterhooks since the brutal incident.

Bar associations have been opposing the action against the accused, alleging that the minority Dogras were being targeted. Lawyers took to the streets shouting slogans and trying to block the road outside the court where the chargesheets have been filed.

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