Protests rock Kashmir against rape of 3-year-old girl

Despite Jammu and Kashmir police constituting a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged rape of a three-year-old girl in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, protests continued to rock the Valley with people calling for the speedy justice.

The alleged rape case was reported on May 8 and police arrested the accused, identified as Tahir Ahmad Mir, the same day. A school principal, who had issued a fake date-of-birth certificate to show the accused as a minor has been detained and is being questioned.

SSP Bandipora Rahul Malik said the police “are treating the accused as a major” and the certificate that was uploaded on social media regarding his age was “fake”.

The horrific incident has sent shockwaves across the valley with protests intensifying day-by-day. Reports of protests were received from almost parts of Kashmir on Monday with protesters saying such acts can only be curbed when the guilty are hanged in public.

A protestor in old city Srinagar said that playing with the chastity of a minor girl who was not even able to talk or walk properly, “signifies the deep rot that has sent into Kashmir’s society that was once known for being conservative.”

“This is the time when people of Kashmir need to wake up from the slumber and protest against the crimes that have brought disrepute to us,” he said while others seconded him.

Reports of protests were received from various educational institutions in the Valley. This is second such incident in the last one year as earlier a minor girl was raped and murdered in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

“If we won’t wake up now, then such incidents will continue,” said a student at Kashmir University. “What was the crime of this three-year-old kid?”

Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali termed such incidents as a black stain on the social fabric and rich culture of Kashmir. He alleged that bribery and a poor sense of responsibility have left the galloping crime rate unchecked “because of the disputed nature of our state.”

Regional PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti sought application of Islamic Sharia law, which calls for the death penalty for such offences as a punishment.

“Mortified to hear about the rape of a 3 yr 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 (sic),” she tweeted.

National Conference leader and another former CM Omar Abdullah tweeted, “The rape of a child in Tirgaam is a travesty. @JmuKmrPolice must ensure a speedy investigation with only one consideration and that is to identify the guilty, prepare a watertight case & ensure exemplary punishment to those responsible.”