Minor girl’s rape sparks outrage across Kashmir
Protests rock parts of valley; MMU calls for calm, introspection
Photo/Javed Khan
Srinagar, May 12: The rape of a three-year-old girl in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district has caused widespread outrage across the Valley with people demanding stern punishment to the accused.
Sensing trouble, the authorities have snapped the Internet in parts of north and central Kashmir as a precautionary measure.
Witnesses said that people from various localities of Sumbal including Shilvat, Dangerpora, Nowgam, Inderkoot, Gadkhod, Shahtulpora, and Shadipora took out protest marches, demanding exemplary punishment to the accused.
The protestors blocked Bandipora- Srinagar road near Sumbal bridge, disrupting traffic movement for some time. The protestors later marched towards main market Sumbal.
Witnesses said Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza and SSP Bandipora, Rahul Malik visited the spot and assured the protestors that the investigation into the case would be carried out on fast-track basis. The protestors later dispersed peacefully.
Police have already arrested the accused, who is a resident of Malikpora Trigam Sumbal.
Protests also rocked Magam, Budgam Chowk and Khomeni Chowk areas. At some places protestors also clashed with police who resorted to firing of tear-gas shells to disperse the protestors. Six people sustained minor injuries in clashes, reports said.
Meanwhile, Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq strongly condemned the minor’s rape urged people of all sects to maintain claim and to introspect.
“Appeal all to maintain calm and introspect while demanding stern punishment, and speedy justice for the victim,” Mirwaiz wrote on his twitter page. “Deeply disturbed by the shocking heinous crime committed on a 3-year-old child in Sumbal,” he said, adding “such repeated incidents raise a serious question mark on how much of our moral and religious values have been imbibed within us and are reflected in our collective behavior as a society.”
Meanwhile, MMU in a detailed statement issued here strongly condemned the gruesome and brutal rape of the three-year-old girl and demanded exemplary punishment to the guilty.
In a statement issued here, the MMU, an amalgam of various religious bodies termed the minor’s rape as very unfortunate and shocking. It said the act has once again shown in which direction Kashmir, that was once a religious society, is heading.
The MMU said that the incident has not only left the conscience of every Kashmiri badly shaken but brought every head down in shame.
The MMU said that today’s incident is second of its kind in north Kashmir in the past one month stating that such incidents are taking place because of the fact that many people in Kashmir have forgotten the path and teachings shown by the great Sufi saints who put their blood and sweat to spread Islam in its true form here.
The MMU said that incident calls for a major introspection and urged the people of all sections to maintain unity on all fronts. MMU also condemned the use of force on the “peaceful protestors who were protesting against the shameful act”.
Police forms SIT to probe minor’s rape
Srinagar, May 12: Police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged rape of a minor girl in Bandipora district of the state.
An SIT comprising sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Sumbal, station house officer (SHO) Sumbal, and senior prosecuting officer has been constituted to investigate the entire case, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bandipora, Rahul Malik said.
The police have already arrested a person identified as Tahir Ahmad Mir, accused of raping the three-year-old girl in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The SSP said the age confirmation of the accused will be determined on the basis of scientific medical test to be conducted by a team of senior doctors.
Demand for exemplary punishment in Bandipora rape case echoes in Kashmir
Sajad speaks to Governor, demands stringent punishment to culprit
Srinagar: Mainstream political parties and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday condemned the alleged rape of a minor girl in Bandipora district of the state and demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.
The three-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, prompting the The Jammu and Kashmir Police to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident.
“The rape of a child in Tirgaam is a travesty. @JmuKmrPolice must ensure a speedy investigation with only one consideration and that is to identify the guilty, prepare a watertight case & ensure exemplary punishment to those responsible,” National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter.
NC’s chief spokesman Aga Syed Ruhullah also condemned the incident and urged the governor administration to constitute a time-bound investigation into the heinous act and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The result of the investigation should be made public and severe punishment should be meted out to the guilty. The punishment should act as a deterrent,” he said.
Ruhullah also urged the governor administration to have the case tried by a fast track court.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said Shariah law seems apt to deal with such cases.
“Mortified to hear about the rape of a 3 yr old girl in Sumbal. What kind of a sick pervert would do this? Society often blames women for inviting unwanted attention but what was this child’s fault? Times like these, Shariah law seems apt so that such paedophiles are stoned to death,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone said the incident merits introspection.
“The tragedy in Tarigam Sumbal as beastly it is merits serious social introspection. We need to seriously ponder on this mad sickness on the prowl. We need to work hard to rediscover the moral foundations of our society,” Lone said in a tweet.
He said he had talked to Governor Satya Pal Malik and requested that the perpetrator of the crime be strongly dealt with.
Separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani also condemned the incident.
“Deeply disturbed by the shocking heinous crime committed on a 3 year old child in Sumbal. Such repeated incidents raise a serious question mark on how much of our moral and religious values have been imbibed within us and are reflected in our collective behaviour as a society.
“Appeal all to maintain calm and introspect while demanding stern punishment and speedy justice for the victim,” Mirwaiz said on Twitter.
In a statement, Geelani termed such incidents as a black stain on the social fabric and rich culture of the state.
