Srinagar : Protests rock Kashmir valley on Monday over the rape of a 3-year-old girl in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. People in the valley took to the streets even as Hurriyat called for a shutdown, affecting regular life.
The 3-year-old minor girl according to her family was allegedly raped just before iftar on Wednesday (May 08), after the accused lured the child with candy, abducted and then raped her.
Massive protests erupted in various parts of valley on Monday, in which scores of youth were injured.
Eyewitness said that, massive protests erupted in Chenbal area of Pattan on Monday morning with youth clashing with the security forces.
They said that the forces resorting to tear gas shelling after the protesters pelted them with stones, resulting in injuries to over 12 youth.
One among them, identified as Arshid Ahmad Dar, was hit by a tear gas shell in his head following which he was rushed to Srinagar in critical condition.
While as, Police on Monday said that at least 47 forces personnel including an assistant commandant of SSB was injured after protesters hurled stones on government forces at various locations along Srinagar-Baramulla highway.
A police spokesman, said that, utmost restraint was maintained by the forces on ground, however about 7 ‘miscreants’ were also injured in the clashes.
Clashes also broke out in Bemina, Awantipora, Ganderbal, Mirgund, Hanjiwera, Hygam, Sopore and other parts of the valley.
With the placards “Justice for Zehra ” in their hands, the students at various locations of the valley held a protest in against the rape and murder case of the minor girl in Sumbal.
Aamina, a 15 year old student of girls higher secondary Hanjiwera said, “Untill justice won’t be provided to 3-year-old girl, we won’t stop protesting.”
An SIT has been constituted to investigate into the case after the police arrested Tahir Ahmad Mir, accused of raping the 3-year-old minor girl.
Sources told GMK preliminary medical examinations of the accused has revealed that he is not a minor, suggests that he is an adult.
While as, the police have also detained the principal of a school who has allegedly issued a DOB certificate for the accused showing his date of birth as 23 July 2009.
However, the sources revealed to GMK that , it was not proved immediately whether the principal has issued a fake DOB certificate or not .
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.
Mainstream political parties and other civil society groups on Sunday also condemned the rape of a minor girl and demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.
“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.
Hurriyat 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.
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