Javadekar launches scathing attack on Congress over 'rape-and-murder' of 6-year-old in Punjab

The BJP hit out at the Congress on Saturday over a case of rape and murder of a 6-year-old in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, as it asked opposition party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra why had they not paid a visit to the family of the victim yet.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday made a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra saying that they don't pay heed to the injustice done to women in the states ruled by their own party.

"The incident of rape and murder of a 6-yr-old Dalit girl from Bihar, in Hoshiarpur's Tanda village is very shocking. We demand strict action against culprits. Instead of going on political tours, Rahul Gandhi should visit Tanda (Punjab) and Rajasthan to take cognizance of incidents of crime against women," said Javadekar.

"Neither Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Gandhi visited the family of the victim in Tanda. They do not pay heed to the injustice done to women in the states ruled by their party, but visit Hathras and other places for photo-op with the victim's family," he added.

Javadekar also claimed that the culprits in the rape-and-murder case in Tanda have not been arrested yet and demanded stringent action against them.

Targeting Bihar's Leader of Opposition and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Javadekar said, "Tejashwi Yadav is sharing the stage and campaigning with the people who are committing atrocities on Bihar's girl. How will it go?"

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), in a letter to Senior Superintendent of Police SSP, Hoshiarpur took cognizance about 'half-burnt' body of a minor girl who was allegedly raped and murdered on Thursday.

In the letter to the SSP, NCPCR on Friday asked for an inquiry into the incident followed by a report within the next three days. The letter also revealed that the victim was the daughter of a migrant labourer living in the same village as the two accused men.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain (retired) Amarinder Singh expressed shock over the rape and murder incident and called for immediate trial and punishment of the guilty.

A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped, killed, and later set on fire and her half-burnt body was found at home at Jalalpur village in Tanda, police said on Thursday.

Two accused, Gurpreet Singh and his grandfather Surjit Singh, have been arrested by the police on the charges of murder, rape and under other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Further investigation is underway.

(With agency inputs)