Even as the Jammu and Kashmir Police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged rape of a minor girl in Bandipora district of the state, protests continue to rock the region with protesters calling for the speedy justice.
The alleged rape incident has taken place on May 8 around 7:20 p.m.
The police have already arrested the accused Tahir Ahmad Mir. The medical examination of the minor girl has been also done. “A team of doctors has examined the minor girl. We are waiting for the forensic report,” a senior official said. “We have arrested the accused, investigation is proceeding firmly and fairly,” the official added.
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“We want justice,” said Muhammad Akram Joo who was among scores of protesters who had blocked Srinagar-Bandipora road to protest against alleged rape of the minor. The protesters allege that a private school has given a certificate to the accused that describe him as a minor. “We want that the principal of the school should be held accountable for giving such a fraudulent certificate. The accused is major,” he said.
The protesters say they would continue to agitate till the police take action against the principal. “We concede that the police have arrested the accused Tariq Ahmad Mir. But we also want that the principal should be held accountable for passing off the accused as a minor,” the angry protesters said. The protesters, including women, were demanding death sentence for the accused.
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“A three-year-old girl has been raped. How wouldn’t remain silent over this crime,” a women protesters in Sumbal said. Protestors also said that no political leader, especially separatist leader, has visited the place and talked to the family of the victim. “We will protest every day. We won’t remain silent over this crime,” they said.
Senior police and civil administration officials throughout the day tried to pacify the protesters. “We didn’t fire a single tear smoke shell. We have arrested the accused and booked him under the relevant sections of the law,” said a senior official. Two senior officials told the protesters that the administration is for a speedy investigation of the case. “It is only possible if you allow us to do our job and don’t engage us in the law and order problems,” they said. The protesters dispersed at Shilwat area after the officials assured them speedy investigation in the case.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed over the rape of the minor girl. "Mortified to hear about the rape of a 3 yr old girl in Sumbal. What kind of a sick pervert would do this?" she tweeted.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, who along the SSP Bandipora, Rahul Malik, are camped at Sumbal, said the administration considers the accused as major. "He is major," Mirza told Outlook. “We appeal to the public to stay calm and not pay heed to any rumors,” he said in a tweet.
