"My Daughter Has Stopped Going to School": J&K Lawyer Deepika Pushkar Nath Raises Alarm Over Security Cut Post-Kathua Case

Deepika Pushkar Nath, a prominent Jammu lawyer and human rights activist who represented the family of the eight-year-old victim in the 2018 Kathua rape and murder case, has voiced serious apprehensions about the downgrading of her personal security.

Nath, who previously served as a spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress party and later returned to it, gained public attention for her legal advocacy in the high-profile Kathua case, also known as the Rasana case. In January 2018, an eight-year-old girl named Asifa Bano from the Bakarwal nomadic community was abducted, gang-raped and murdered in Rasana village near Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. Several accused were convicted in the case following widespread protests and investigations.

In her posts, Nath stated that her security has been downgraded and drew a comparison with the recent assassination attempt on National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. On March 11, Abdullah escaped unhurt when a gunman opened fire at him at point-blank range during a wedding ceremony at Royal Park Banquet Hall in Greater Kailash, Jammu. Police personnel foiled the attempt, and a 63-year-old suspect was arrested. Jammu and Kashmir Police subsequently formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team to probe the incident, with Abdullah having been provided Z+ security as per protocol for high-profile protectees.

Nath wrote: “My security has been downgraded. When someone like Farooq Abdullah sb can miraculously survive an assassination attempt despite having Z+ protection, what does it mean for someone like me? My daughter has stopped going to school. That’s the level of fear we’re living with.” She further alleged that ever since the Rasana case she has faced social and professional isolation. “Yet, @JmuKmrPolice particularly IG Jammu, remain shockingly insensitive. Despite repeated concerns, there’s no cognizance, no response, no accountability,” she added.

Concluding her thread, Nath held the authorities responsible, stating: “If anything happens to me or my family, the responsibility will lie squarely with the IGP Jammu Security who have no SOPs in place for threat assessment.” She tagged senior officials including the Lieutenant Governor’s office, Union Home Ministry and Jammu and Kashmir Police.