Kathua, April 16: In the latest development of the Kathua rape and murder case, the victim's father has approached Supreme Court, seeking safety, security and transfer of the case outside Jammu and Kashmir. Reportedly, Supreme Court has also fixed an urgent hearing time, today at 2PM to hear the father's petition to seek a shift in the trial to Chandigarh. According to an ANI report, Ankur Sharma, Counsel for accused has been quoted as, "Court has directed that charge sheet copies should be provided to all accused, we are ready for narco tests." Next hearing will on April 28.

The trials in the gruesome Kathua rape and murder case has begun today against eight accused who allegedly held an 8-year-old girl in captivity in a small village temple in Kathua district for a week in January this year during which she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death. The accused include a juvenile.The chief judicial magistrate of Kathua will be committing one of the chargesheets, in which seven people have been named, to the sessions court for trial as mandated under the law.As per reports, the chief judicial magistrate will, however, hold the trial for the juvenile as it is the designated court under the juvenile act, according to officials.

On Sunday, Veteran lawyer Deepika Rajawat, who is appearing in the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on behalf of the Kathua rape-murder victim's family, alleged threat to her life from the supporters of the accused.The senior counsel claims she is facing massive resistance from Jammu Bar Association, local politicians and certain "anti-social elements". "I was threatened yesterday with a message that 'we will not forgive you'," Rajawat said. "I don't know till when I will be alive. I can be raped, my modesty can be outraged and I can be killed," the advocate further claimed, adding that she would approach the Supreme Court on Monday seeking enhanced protection.

There were protests all over the country, as people took to the streets to voice their opinion about the gruesome rapes that has shook the nation and has demanded immediate punishment to the accused.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 16, 2018 11:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).