Alleging “torture and harassment” of their children by the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police, Hindu residents of the Rasana and several families from Dhamyal village have migrated from their villages, Tribune India has reported.

Following the arrest of three accused in the alleged rape and murder of an eight-year old girl in Kathua, the villagers allege that the police had been detaining and torturing their children randomly for questioning.

“We never supported the accused and will not do it in future but there should be a fair investigation to restore people’s faith in the administrative set up. Why are the Crime Branch people more interested in giving hearing to only one viewpoint? Why are they more interested in implicating the youth in false cases and fabricating evidence against them? This is a part of a bigger communal game plan,” said Vijay Sharma, president of the Hindu Ekta Manch, who met the migrants.

“All the families of Rasana village and many families from the adjoining Dhamyal village have migrated to Kootah on the Jammu-Pathankot highway as they have been living under constant fear of torture and harassment of their children by the Crime Branch,” Sharma added.

Hundreds of people from neighbouring villages have expressed solidarity with the villagers. Meanwhile, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has demanded a CBI enquiry into the case, citing lack of faith in the local police.

The villagers however, don’t have high hopes from the BJP, which is a coalition partner in the government. On being contacted, a girl student said, “We are being harassed on a daily basis. The board exams for Classes X and XII have already begun. Our studies have been badly affected. The Chief Minister has herself politicised the matter for vote bank politics while BJP ministers have succumbed before the PDP for the lust of power.”