Daily Diary (DD) - Day 339 of 2021

2216hrs:

I'm totally immersed in some work in reference to the 'missing historical links of Sharda'.......

.......

I did want to visit the home of the slain Kanwal Matloob today but the above cited work kept me up all night. Rain was also a factor. I do understand that many people have converged there after yesterday's protest by women at Sandal Chowk. 

We also understand that the father of 6 year old Zainab Ansari, namely Amin Ansari (whose daughter was raped in Kasur, Pakistan in 2018 leading to a vociferous campaign for justice ensuing in that country, which culminated in the culprit's hanging soon after) has also visited in a moving gesture of solidarity. 

We also remember Asifa Bano - also in 2018 - but on this occasion across the LOC in our own territory. She was 8 years old and hailed from a Gujjar/Bakarwaal (nomadic shepherds) family of Kathua. Despite vicious attempts to derail due process by powerful quarters, heightened media attention and vigilance brought about a trial after 3 months. A further 14 months later, on 10 June 2019, six of the seven defendants were convicted and one acquitted. Three convicts were given life imprisonment and the other three 5 years.   

........