Witness in Kathua Rape Case Allegedly Assaulted by Police

The Supreme Court will hear a plea on August 8, alleging that Talib Hussain, a key witness in the Kathua rape and murder case, has been allegedly assaulted and tortured by the Jammu and Kashmir police. Hussain was recently arrested by Samba police in connection with a rape case. 

On Monday, Supreme Court Advocate Indira Jaising tweeted that Talib Hussain was tortured in the police custody. Her tweet read, “Talib Hussain- who was arrested last week- has been tortured in Samba police station while on police remand, skull broken, rushed to hospital in Samba, he is a key witness in the Kathua gang rape-murder case. This is unacceptable in a democracy.”

Moreover, Hussain’s family members and relatives were not allowed to meet him. S.P. Vaid, director general of police Jammu and Kashmir has claimed, however, that the Hussain hit himself “out of frustration.” Another tweet by Jaising confirmed that the Talib was out of danger. The tweet read, “Talib has been sent back to the same police station in Samba where he was assaulted. Samba hospital did not allow Talib’s relatives to meet him there. Relatives saw him at the police station. Head was bandaged, bleeding,” she tweeted.

Newsclick tried to contact Indira Jaising for her comment, but was unable to get through.

Meanwhile, the local media in Jammu has called this a case of suicide. Local daily Excelsior writes that Hussain “made a bid to commit suicide by hitting his head with the walls in the lock up”.

According to SHO, Samba Police Station, Chanchal Singh, “By hitting his forehead against the wall of the lock up he has committed suicide offence under Section 309 RPC and a case FIR No 215/2018 under Section 309 RPC has been registered against him at the Police Station, Samba,”Excelsior reported.

Talib Hussain, a social activist, is the key witness in the Kathua gang rape-murder case of an eight-year old girl. He was shot to fame after he spearheaded a campaign demanding justice for the girl. He was arrested on August 2 and is in police remand on the charges of rape and illegal possessions of weapons.