Protests in Kashmir due to rape of two minors within a week

Less than a week after a minor was raped in the northern district of Bandipora, the news of a 16-year-old being raped in Ganderbal district has enraged the Kashmir Valley. While the accused in both the cases were promptly arrested by the local police, the protesters from the valley have demanded capital punishment for the heinous crime.

With the entire valley erupting with mass protest on the streets of Sumbal and Shadipora, a special investigation team (SIT) has also been constituted for probing the matter.

“We were busy with law and order today. We have begun our investigations and have constituted an SIT to probe the case,” said senior superintendent of police, Bandipora Rahul Malik.

On conflicting reports regarding the accused’s age, the SSP said the police is treating him as a major. “We have constituted a medical board to ascertain his exact age,” he added.

Assuring justice in the matter, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shahbaz Mirza said, “The heinous crime of rape of a minor in Shadipora Bandipora is under investigation with full vigor and we assure that perpetrator of the crime will be brought to justice. We appeal to the public to stay calm and not heed to any rumours.”

Shahid Choudhary, the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar asked the locals to avoid sharing the personal details of the rape victim. , “Death penalty for child rape. I hope investigation and trial is fast-tracked to 2-month deadline,” he wrote on Twitter.

“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,” tweeted Mehbooba Mufti, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party president.