J&K court sentences self-styled faith healer to 14 years for child sexual abuse

Srinagar: A local court in Kashmir has sentenced Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, a self-styled faith healer, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for committing unnatural sexual offenses against two minor children during their religious lessons.

Sheikh was convicted on Monday under Section 377 (unnatural sexual act) of the Ranbir Penal Code in connection with a case filed in March 2016.

In the order, the court condemned Sheikh for exploiting his position as a religious figure to manipulate vulnerable children.

“The offense was not an isolated incident but a repeated pattern of abuse that spanned over several years. The victims have endured severe emotional and psychological trauma, as reflected in their testimonies,” said Mir Wajahat, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Sopore.

The case came to light after the victims, two young children, reported the abuse they suffered while attending Sheikh’s religious lessons. The children were under his care as part of their spiritual education when he took advantage of their trust, manipulating and exploiting them. The investigation into the case spanned nearly a decade and resulted in Sheikh’s conviction after the court found sufficient evidence to support the charges.

Sheikh was initially arrested in 2016 following multiple complaints from survivors, who had been subjected to years of trauma under the guise of spiritual healing. Although he was released on bail in subsequent years, Sheikh was taken into custody once again after the court delivered its verdict.

The court sentenced Sheikh to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for each victim, with the sentences to run consecutively. He will serve 14 years and pay Rs 50,000 in compensation to each victim.

One of the victims, Musab Omer, who was a key witness in the case, underscored the importance of raising awareness about child sexual abuse within the community.

“This case has been an eye-opener for us, where people blindly trust those in positions of power. It shows the need for educating both parents and children about appropriate physical boundaries. Ignorance and stigma are exactly what predators like Sheikh exploit.”

One of the survivors and a key witness in the case, Musab Omer emphasized the need for greater awareness in society: “This case has been an eye-opener for our community, where people blindly trust those in positions of power. It highlights the necessity of educating both parents and children about normal physical boundaries—because this ignorance and stigma is precisely what predators exploit.”

Omer added that Sheikh systematically preyed on young boys for decades, using his influence as a spiritual healer to manipulate them. “Many survivors were psychologically manipulated, made to believe that a ‘Djinn’ possessed Sheikh, forcing them to comply out of fear of supernatural consequences,” he said.

“He also used his role as a teacher and religious leader to gain trust within the community, which he then exploited to carry out his crimes,” Omer stated, expressing hope that the conviction would encourage more survivors to come forward and seek justice.

The court concluded the judgment with a poignant poem penned by the judge himself: “But truth will rise, the stars will call, No shadow stands where justice falls.”