Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti  Friday said she was “appalled” and “horrified” by rallies and marches in support of the main accused in the rape and murder of an eight year old girl in Kathua.

“Appalled by the marches & protests in defense of the recently apprehended rapist in Kathua. Also horrified by their use of our national flag in these demonstrations, this is nothing short of desecration. The accused has been arrested & the law will follow its course,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

Carrying Indian national flags, Hindu Ekta Munch members took out a March demanding  that the accused, a Special Police Officer,  be released. In pictures that went viral on social media, triggering outrage, policemen were also seen escorting the protestors.

Deepak Khajuria was arrested by a Special Investigation Team on charges of raping and murdering eight year old  Asif Bano  to “strike fear” among the nomadic Gujjar community living in the area, according to police.

Khajuria, posted at the Hiranagar police station, had been a part of the police team searching for the girl when her family first reported her missing on January 10. He had held the girl in captivity for a week.