Kashmiri separatists seek death for minor's rape-murder accused

Srinagar : Kashmiri separatist leaders on Thursday demanded death for those responsible for the rape and murder of a minor in Kathua district.

At a joint protest rally, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik said they would fight for justice to Asifa, 8, who went missing from a village in Kathua early last month. Her body was found on January 17.

Police have so far arrested two persons including a special police officer (SPO), Deepak Kumar Khajuria, in connection with the case.

The SPO was incidentally part of the search party to trace the girl.

"We demand death sentence for those involved in this heinous crime," Malik told the gathering.

Geelani and the Mirwaiz, who are under house arrest, addressed the rally through telephone.