Jammu: A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped repeatedly by a teacher in her school for the last few months, resulting in pregnancy and her death following an abortion bid in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, prompting police to arrest the accused and his brother on Friday.
The girl’s death late on Thursday evening triggered protests in Chatroo and several other parts of the district.
Police have arrested accused Khalid Ahmed Sheikh, a Teacher Grade-II and the in-charge headmaster of the Middle School Bumalpora in Inderwal, along with his brother, officials said.
The girl died late on Thursday evening while being taken towards Jammu for an abortion, sources said. Her body and that of the stillborn child were subsequently taken to her village, triggering protests in Chatroo and other parts of Kishtwar on Friday.
A case was registered at the Chatroo police station under sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 65(1) (rape of a woman below 16 years), 90 (death caused by an act intended to cause miscarriage), 91 (act intended to prevent a child from being born alive or to cause its death after birth) and 92 (causing the death of a quick unborn child by an act amounting to culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, besides sections 4 (punishment for penetrative sexual assault), 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault), 8 (punishment for sexual assault), 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) and 17 (punishment for abetment) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Friday.
According to locals, the girl was pregnant for months. About a fortnight ago, she complained of stomach pain and was taken to a local health centre, where a medical examination revealed her pregnancy.
The girl subsequently told her parents that the teacher had sexually assaulted her repeatedly. Locals alleged that the accused had offered money to the girl’s family members and threatened them against approaching police.
On Wednesday, the accused and his brother allegedly took the girl to a health facility in Kishtwar for an abortion, accompanied by her father and uncle. Following a medical examination, she was reportedly referred to another facility, where an attempt was made to induce delivery through a surgery, the sources said.
During the procedure, her condition allegedly deteriorated and she delivered a stillborn child, they said. Later, the girl also died.
The incident sparked protests, with locals demanding a judicial inquiry and strict action against all those responsible.
A complete bandh was also observed in the Chatroo belt on Friday, while protests spread to several parts of Kishtwar after Friday prayers.
Chief Education Officer, Kishtwar, Sanjay Dogra said the accused teacher was placed under suspension after the department received information about his alleged involvement in the case.
“We started receiving reports on social media on Thursday night and I was shocked to hear about such a serious incident involving a minor. Early this morning, I took immediate action and sought information from the school about what had happened,” Dogra told reporters.
“He has been suspended and subsequently, arrested by police,” Dogra said, adding that the victim’s death of birth was October 12, 2010.
