Mon 13 May 2019:
Citywide strikes shut down Srinagar as people protested against the rape of a three-year-old girl in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The rape of a three-year-old girl in Sumbal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district has led to widespread protests across the Valley. Schools and business establishments in the area remained shut as protestors demanded the strongest punishment possible for the accused. Local officials said public transport was also affected by the strike. However, government offices and banks remained open, they said. The three-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on May 9, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir Police to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident. The police have arrested the accused. Itehadul Muslimeen — a religious organisation called for a complete shutdown across the Kashmir Valley on Monday against the alleged rape of the girl at Sumbal in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
“The rape of a child in Tirgaam is a travesty. Jammu and Kashmir Police must ensure a speedy investigation with only one consideration and that is to identify the guilty, prepare a watertight case and ensure exemplary punishment to those responsible,” National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah wrote on Twitter.
People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said Shariah law seems apt to deal with such cases. She tweeted, “Mortified to hear about the rape of a three-year-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.” Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone said the incident merits introspection.
“The tragedy in Tarigam Sumbal as beastly it 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.
Case
The minor girl was allegedly raped just before iftar (evening meal had during the holy month of Ramzan) according to the complaint filed by her family. A relative of the minor said that the accused lured the child with candy, abducted and then raped her. The family found her in a nearby area and informed the local police. 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. However, locals protested when a local school tried to shield the accused by furnishing a forged date of birth certificate to show him as a minor. Police 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. Protests broke out on Sunday at few places against the incident and people demanded immediate exemplary action against the perpetrators of the crime. The clashes took place between protesters and security forces who fired pellets and tear smoke shells to disperse them.
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