Ironic that a day after celebrating World Day for International Justice, the defence counsel in the horrific rape &… https://t.co/kghEr07eDj — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) 1531908373000

“We should not react to this. We should focus on the trial," said Deepika Singh Rajawat, the lawyer representing th… https://t.co/IyZdT9l021 — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) 1531912075000

NEW DELHI: A day after the J&K government under governor NN Vohra appointed the defence counsel of one of the main accused of Kathua gangrape and murder case, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said that it appears to be an attempt at "rewarding" those who defend alleged murderers and rapists."Such a move will only serve to encourage the rape culture rampant in our society," Mufti tweeted.Yesterday, the state government had appointed 31 advocates as law officers in the Jammu and Kashmir wing of the High Court. Fifteen advocate were appointed to the Kashmir wing, while the remaining 16 were assigned to the Jammu wing.Aseem Swahney, who was one of the defence counsels for the accused in the gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old nomadic girl, was appointed as additional advocate general by the governor of the state to the Jammu wing.Quoting the lawyer who appeared for the Kathua victim in his tweet, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that the decision is both “inexplicable and worrisome”.“…if the victim’s lawyer is not unduly concerned by this development the rest of us should just let her get on with the job of ensuring justice for the young victim,” he tweeted.The brutal rape and murder of the girl belonging to a minority nomadic community, in a village close to Kathua in Jammu region had sparked outrage in the country. She had disappeared on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later.According to the charge sheet, the victim was held in captivity at a small village temple where she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before she was bludgeoned to death.Another counsel for the accused in the case, Ankur Sharma defended Sawhney's appointment."Mehbooba Mufti has just showcased her ignorance more profundly through her tweets, Additional Advocate General doesn't control public procecuters," he said, according to ANI.