Rape cause of concern in J&K as well, 378 cases reported last year

While alleged gang-rape of two sisters in Badaun, UP has sent shock waves throughout the world, the predominately religious Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a surge in rape and molestation cases.

In the latest shocking incident, a 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped while she was out of her home to dispose of waste in communally sensitive Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir.

Police said the victim, a student of class 5, was allegedly gang-raped by two men in Eidgah of Drabshala some 25 km from Kishtwar town on Monday.

Police have arrested one of the accused who has been identified as Nitin Chand while a manhunt has been launched to trace another accused Sudesh Kumar.

Reports said sensing trouble senior police officers rushed to the spot and assured the agitating people that stern action will be taken against the culprits. The SP said people should repose faith in the system which is meant for the people.

Just a few weeks back, a school teacher was placed under suspension who had allegedly molested four of his students during a picnic in Banihal.

A female nurse recently accused that four senior officers of the Health Department in Kashmir including its director, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, tried to molest her inside an office here.

In February, a case was registered against former Minister of State for Health and senior Congress leader Shabir Ahmad Khan after a female doctor alleged that he tried to molest her inside his office chamber in civil secretariat in Srinagar.

Official data reveals that Jammu and Kashmir Police registered 378 rape cases in 2013, which corresponds to seven rapes every week and is an increase of 75 cases from the total of preceding year. It reveals that 277 rape cases were registered in 2011, while the number had shot up to 303 in 2012.

Molestation cases have also jumped from 1,194 in 2011 to 1,322 in 2012 to 1,389 in 2013, which corresponds to an average of 26 molestation cases every week, the data reveals.

Currently, there are only two women police stations — one each at Jammu and Srinagar which are exclusively run by women police officers. Besides, four women cells are functioning at Anantnag, Baramulla, Udhampur and Rajouri.