Casepin
Back to cases

Case file

Kathua rape and murder case

SOLVED2018Rasana village, near Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, India3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

In January 2018, an 8-year-old girl, Asifa Bano, from the nomadic Bakarwal Muslim community, went missing near the village of Rasana in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, after going to watch over grazing horses on 10 January. Her father filed a missing person complaint on 12 January, and her body was discovered on 17 January, roughly a kilometer from the village. A post-mortem found she had been drugged with a sedative, raped multiple times by different men, and killed by strangulation and a blow to the head with a heavy stone. Forensic evidence, including DNA from vaginal swabs and hair strands, was analyzed by the Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory and linked several of the accused to the crime scene, including a temple where she had reportedly been held for several days.

Investigation was transferred to the Crime Branch and Crime Headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 January 2018. Eight individuals were ultimately arrested, including four police officers, two of whom were accused of destroying evidence and accepting money to cover up the crime. Police identified Sanji Ram, a priest at the family temple where the crime occurred, as the individual who devised the plan; his son Vishal Jangotra and a juvenile nephew were also charged, along with police officers Deepak Khajuria and Parvesh Kumar, head constable Tilak Raj, and sub-inspector Arvind Dutta. The chargesheet stated the crime was intended both as personal revenge and to intimidate the Bakarwal community into leaving the area, a Muslim minority in the Hindu-majority district.

The case triggered significant communal tension. Right-wing Hindu groups, organized as the "Hindu Ekta Manch," staged protests defending the accused, and two ministers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party attended a protest in their support. Lawyers affiliated with the group attempted to block the filing of charges on 9 April 2018. The victim's family reported being threatened when they attempted to bury her, and had to do so in a different village. The Delhi High Court later fined twelve media houses for disclosing the victim's identity in violation of child-protection law.

The trial began in Kathua on 16 April 2018 and was later moved by the Supreme Court of India to Pathankot on 7 May 2018, where it was held in-camera and fast-tracked. On 10 June 2019, six of the seven adult defendants were convicted. Sanji Ram, Deepak Khajuria, and Pravesh Kumar received life sentences; Tilak Raj, Anand Dutta, and Surender Verma received five-year sentences for destroying evidence. Vishal Jangotra was acquitted for lack of evidence. The juvenile nephew was tried separately in juvenile court. The case drew condemnation from the Prime Minister of India and the United Nations Secretary-General, and prompted public protests, including a candlelight vigil at India Gate in New Delhi.

Key facts

Victims
Asifa Bano
Date
2018
Location
Rasana village, near Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2018-01-10

    Asifa Bano, aged 8, went missing near Rasana village, Kathua district, while watching over grazing horses.

  2. 2018-01-12

    Her father, Mohammad Yusuf, filed a missing person complaint at Hiranagar police station.

  3. 2018-01-17

    The victim's body was discovered about a kilometer from the village and a post-mortem was conducted.

  4. 2018-01-22

    Investigation transferred to the Crime Branch and Crime Headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir.

  5. 2018-04-09

    Chargesheet against seven adult accused filed; lawyers protested in support of the accused outside the Chief Judicial Magistrate's office.

  6. 2018-04-12

    Candlelight march held at India Gate, New Delhi, attended by opposition leaders.

  7. 2018-04-13

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Supreme Court of India made public statements condemning the incident.

  8. 2018-04-16

    Trial began before the Principal Sessions Court judge in Kathua.

  9. 2018-05-07

    Supreme Court of India shifted the trial from Jammu and Kashmir to Pathankot and ordered it fast-tracked and held in-camera.

  10. 2018-11-14

    The victim's family removed their lawyer, Deepika Rajawat, from the case.

  11. 2019-06-10

    Six of seven adult defendants were convicted; one was acquitted. Three received life imprisonment and three received five-year sentences.

  12. 2019-10-22

    A Jammu court ordered an FIR against members of the Special Investigation Team following allegations of torture to fabricate evidence against Vishal Jangotra.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Sanji Ram

    CONVICTED

    Priest identified as the main accused who devised the plan of kidnap and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Surender Verma

    CONVICTED

    Convicted and sentenced to five years for destroying evidence.

  • Tilak Raj

    CONVICTED

    Head constable convicted and sentenced to five years for destroying evidence.

  • Deepak Khajuria

    CONVICTED

    Police officer convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Parvesh Kumar

    CONVICTED

    Police officer convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Arvind Dutta

    CONVICTED

    Sub-inspector convicted and sentenced to five years for destroying evidence (referred to as Anand Dutta at sentencing).

  • Vishal Jangotra

    ACQUITTED

    Son of Sanji Ram; acquitted due to lack of evidence.

  • Asifa Bano

    VICTIM

    8-year-old girl from the nomadic Bakarwal Muslim community, abducted, drugged, raped, and murdered in January 2018.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Rasana village, near Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, India

32.3850, 75.5170

View on the map

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
An 8-year-old girl from the nomadic Bakarwal Muslim community, Asifa Bano, was abducted, drugged, gang-raped and murdered in January 2018 near Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Six of seven men tried were convicted in 2019, with the case drawing widespread communal tension and national and international condemnation.
Where did the murder happen?
Rasana village, near Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Who was convicted?
Sanji Ram (Priest identified as the main accused who devised the plan of kidnap and murder; sentenced to life imprisonment.), Surender Verma (Convicted and sentenced to five years for destroying evidence.), Tilak Raj (Head constable convicted and sentenced to five years for destroying evidence.), Deepak Khajuria (Police officer convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.), Parvesh Kumar (Police officer convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.), and Arvind Dutta (Sub-inspector convicted and sentenced to five years for destroying evidence (referred to as Anand Dutta at sentencing).).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in India

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICKathua rape and murder caseWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — BBC NewsBBC News · 2026-07-10
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The New York TimesThe New York Times · 2026-07-10