Srinagar: A horrifying incident of sexual assault and murder on the outskirts of Srinagar city has shocked the entire populace in Kashmir.
A tribal woman was sexually assaulted by four young men in the Nishat area of Srinagar. She was rushed to a medical facility where she was declared ‘brought dead.’
Reports suggest that one of the accused was nabbed by the locals, which led to the arrest of three others.
Acting promptly upon receiving information regarding an attempted sexual assault on a woman (name withheld) by a group of individuals near Water Works Road, Nishat, Srinagar, Police has arrested three accused, a police spokesman said.
The victim had sustained grievous injuries and was shifted to the hospital, where she was declared brought dead.
Following the incident, FIR No. 35/2025 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Nishat, and investigation was immediately initiated, a police spokesman said.
He said that during the course of investigation all the four accused persons were identified and arrested.
The arrested persons have been identified as Suhail Bashir Bhat, S/O Bashir Ahmad, R/O Asham Sumbal; Adil Ali Bhat, S/O Ali Mohammad, R/O Zeethyar Nishat; Firdous Ahmad Rather, S/O Ghulam Ahmad, R/O Zeethyar Nishat and; Suhail Afzal Bhat, S/O Mohammad Afzal, R/O Pahloo Brein.
Police said that in a swift and decisive operation, all the accused have been apprehended, adding, further investigation in the case is ongoing.
While people hail Police for the swift action, they lament that the hospital staff was not that cooperative.
Protesting against the heinous act, the Nishat area of Srinagar, the local market in Brein and Nishat Srinagar remained shut on Monday.
The woman, originally from Reasi and currently living in Nishat with her family, was allegedly assaulted by a group of individuals near the Water Works Road on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, Political leaders from different parties of Jammu and Kashmir have condemned alleged “rape and murder” in Nishat and sought exemplary punishment for those involved in it.
Pertinently, a nomadic woman lost her life after she was allegedly sexually assaulted in the Nishat area on Sunday. Four persons believed to be involved in the act have been arrested by the police.
Ruling National Conference (NC) expressed grief and said that such acts cannot be allowed to go unpunished.
“The JKNC expresses deep sorrow and strong condemnation over the alleged rape and eventual death of a nomad woman from Reasi. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family in this moment of profound loss,” JKNC wrote on X.
NC general secretary & MLA Khanyar, Ali Mohammed Sagar, Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi and MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali have also expressed deep anguish over the incident.
“This tragic incident is a grim reminder of the growing threat of violence against women. Such acts are an affront to our collective conscience and cannot be allowed to go unpunished,” reads the post.
Mian Mehar Ali, MLA Kangan in a post demanded fast track investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.
“A Bakerwal girl has been brutally assaulted and raped, leading to her death, by two men in Nishat area of Srinagar. I demand fast track investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment to the perpetrators,” Mehar Ali wrote.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also expressed shock over the incident.
“Deeply shocked and heartbroken by the alleged rape and tragic death of a tribal woman in Nishat. Reports suggest she suffered brutal injuries and succumbed en route to the hospital. The police have arrested the accused, who were reportedly intoxicated during the crime. Substance abuse, particularly alcohol and drugs, is devastating our youth and fueling horrific crimes like rape and murder. This tragedy reflects a broader societal crisis. My heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family. I hope the perpetrators face the full force of the law,” Mufti wrote.
MLA Handwara and Peoples Conference (PC) chairman, Sajad Gani Lone said that the culprits deserve stringent punishment and demanded a fast-track trial.
“A barbaric crime against a tribal woman. A tribal woman was sexually assaulted and murdered in the Nishat area. The culprits deserve stringent punishment and a fast-track trial,” Lone wrote.
Apni Party president, Altaf Bukhari in a post, said that those involved in this heinous crime must be brought to justice.
“The tragic incident in Nishat, where a nomadic woman originally from Reasi was brutally assaulted and murdered by a group of intoxicated individuals, is horrifying and deeply shameful. Those involved in this heinous crime must be brought to justice. My heartfelt condolences go out to the victim’s family. No words of solace can truly ease the pain they must be experiencing at this time,” Bukhari wrote.
PDP leader, Iltija Mufti demanded that the culprits be taken to task for this blood curdling crime.
“A tribal woman – mother to two sons while grazing her goats is tied to a tree and raped by drunk men. Her family finds her mercilessly beaten. She’s rushed to a hospital where not a single doctor is present to attend to the grievously injured victim battling for her life. The culprits must be brought to task for this blood curdling crime,” Iltija wrote.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, along with the members of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema Jammu & Kashmir (MMU) also expressed deep shock and heartbreak over the horrific incident in Nishat.
This act of barbarity is not just a crime against an individual—it is a painful reflection of the deepening moral and spiritual crisis engulfing our society, Mirwaiz said in a statement.
Family demands justice
The family members of the nomadic woman (name withheld) hardly knew that she was serving a last tea to her kid’s minutes before she was sexually assaulted and killed by four rapists in Nishat area of Srinagar outskirts.
It was the first time it took her so long to return from the green bushes wherein she had gone to graze the cattle. This time she didn’t return as she used to.
For a long time when 40-year-old nomadic woman didn’t appear back to the temporary tent, her daughter rushed towards the woods where she saw her mother battling for life with blood oozing from her body.
With blood stripped clothes, the nomadic woman who fought against the four rapists was found unconscious. However, seeing her daughter, the rapists escaped the spot.
“My sister called us after seeing our mother unconscious and in a pool of blood,” the victim’s family narrates the ordeal while speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Immediately, the was rushed to the nearby health facility for treatment, where she was declared brought dead.
The daughter of the victim demanded the culprits should meet the same fate. “We will only find peace when the rapists will be brought to justice. Our mother has left behind little kids. How can we live without our mother,” said her daughter.
“Weren’t they born from a mother. How can they assault and kill a mother of five. The culprits were inhuman,” she wailed. “We found an accused with blood on his pants due to which he was caught, otherwise, we would have no idea about the culprits.”
“The culprits should be hanged till death,” she, along with her family and relatives, demanded.
Narrating the moments before the incident the daughter of the victim said that her mother was serving tea to them. “Hardly we knew that our mother was serving the last tea to us.”
In the meantime, the body was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar for legal medico formalities and was handed over to the family for last rites this morning.
The family reached Dard Wooder, Mammer area of Kangan to bid a tearful farewell to the victim where hundreds attended the Jinaza.
