Kashmir: Massive Protests Over Rape Of 3-Year-Old, At Least 12 Injured

Protests continued to rock Kashmir valley on Monday over the rape of a 3-year-old child in Kashmir’s Bandipora district. People in the valley took to the streets even as separatists called for a shutdown, affecting regular life. 

Greater Kashmir reported that over a dozen people were injured as massive protests took place in the Chenbal area of Pattan. One person was critically injured. 

The report said that protesters clashed with security forces, who used tear gas as protesters pelted stones. 

Another report in Greater Kashmir said that protests also broke out in Srinagar. 

Most schools, shops and other business establishments in Srinagar remained shut as separatists called for a shutdown in the valley. 

An SIT has been constituted to investigate into the case after the police arrested Tahir Ahmad Mir, accused of raping the minor girl in Sumbal area of Bandipora. 

PTI reported that preliminary medical examinations of the accused has revealed that he is not a minor. 

“We are treating the accused as a major and not as a juvenile,” a senior police official told PTI. He said the preliminary medical examination of the accused, who has been arrested by the police, suggests that he is an adult.

“The doctors have given an opinion that he is around 20 years old,” the official said.

He said the police have also detained the principal of a school who issued a birth certificate for the accused showing his date of birth as 23 July 2009.

“The principal is under custody and is being questioned,” the official said.

He said the police are investigating the case and will take it to the logical conclusion.

Politicians condemned the incident and demanded speedy justice in the case. 

NC’s chief spokesman Aga Syed Ruhullah also condemned the incident and urged the governor administration to constitute a time-bound investigation into the heinous act and bring the perpetrators to justice. “The result of the investigation should be made public and severe punishment should be meted out to the guilty. The punishment should act as a deterrent,” he said.

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone said the incident merits introspection. 

Protests broke out on Sunday at few places against the incident and people demanded immediate exemplary action against the perpetrators of the crime.

At Khomeini Chowk in Bemina area on the outskirts of the city, clashes took place between protesters and security forces who fired pellets and tear smoke shells to disperse them.

(With PTI inputs)