*SRINAGAR, MAY 13 (PTK):*Protests have erupted across the valley in theaftermath of the heinous rape case on a 3 year old little child in Sumbalarea of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on May 8, wherein the protestershave demanded for the accused to be hanged.
Along with calling for capital punishment against the rape accused, theprotesters are expressing their outrage over the passivity of the Hurriyatleadership and questioning as to why a shut down has not been called bythem.
The brutal rape on the little girl by her neighbour has prompted the Jammuand Kashmir Police to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) toprobe the incident.
Meanwhile, the age of the accused is still in question as the schoolprincipal has allegedly issued a certificate declaring the accused asminor, however locals have claimed that he is 27 years old.
As per the Police reports, a medical test of the accused will be conductedto ascertain his age.
Mainstream political parties like Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP, the NationalConference of the Abdullahs, Sajan Lone’s People’s Conference andseparatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday have condemned thealleged rape of the minor in Bandipora district of the state on Twitter.
Mainstream political parties and separatist groups in Jammu and KashmirSunday condemned the rape of a minor girl and demanded exemplary punishmentto the perpetrators.
“The rape of a child in Tirgaam is a travesty. Jammu and Kashmir Policemust ensure a speedy investigation with only one consideration and that isto identify the guilty, prepare a watertight case and ensure exemplarypunishment to those responsible,” National Conference (NC) vice-presidentOmar Abdullah wrote on Twitter.
People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said Shariah law seems aptto deal with such cases. She tweeted, “Mortified to hear about the rape ofa 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 wasthis child’s fault? Times like these, Shariah law seems apt so that suchpaedophiles are stoned to death.”
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone said the incidentmerits introspection.
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“The tragedy in Tarigam Sumbal as beastly it merits serious socialintrospection. We need to seriously ponder on this mad sickness on theprowl. We need to work hard to rediscover the moral foundations of oursociety,” Lone said in a tweet.
He said he had talked to Governor Satya Pal Malik and requested that theperpetrator of the crime be strongly dealt with.
Separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani alsocondemned the incident.
“Deeply disturbed by the shocking heinous crime committed on a 3-year-oldchild in Sumbal. Such repeated incidents raise a serious question mark onhow much of our moral and religious values have been imbibed within us andare reflected in our collective behaviour as a society.
“Appeal all to maintain calm and introspect while demanding sternpunishment and speedy justice for the victim,” Mirwaiz said on Twitter.
In a statement, Geelani termed such incidents as a black stain on thesocial fabric and rich culture of the state.
The minor girl was allegedly raped just before iftar (evening meal hadduring the holy month of Ramzan) according to the complaint filed by herfamily.
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’sBandipora district. (PTK)