Srinagar/May,13 : Protests on Monday rocked several parts of Kashmir valley against the alleged rape of a three-year-old girl in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district last week as Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan during an urgently convened press conference assured fast track investigation to punish the guilty and appealed people to maintain peace and calm during the course of investigation.
Police used tear gas at several places to disperse the protesters who had blocked the traffic movement to demand speedy trial of the case.
As reported already a 3-year-old girl was raped allegedly by his neighbour on May 8 in the late evening hours after luring her to a nearby school. The locals say “the accused had raped her in the washroom of the school located at a walking distance from their respective houses” .
Angered by the widely condemned horrific incident, the protesters thronged Baramulla-Srinagar highway at Hyga,m in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district and blocked traffic for several hours.
The protesters took to streets over their demand for fast track investigation into the case for prompt and exemplary action against the guilty and immediate action against the school principal for allegedly issuing a certificate declaring the accused as a minor. Police have detained the school principal for questioning.
The students of degree college Sopore and higher secondary school amid a total shut down in the town also held a peaceful protest. Protest march were also taken out in many parts of Srinagar city, including Saida Kadal, Gaw Kadal, Almagari Bazar and Shalimar areas. Schools and other business establishments have also been closed in the city while the movement of public transport has been disrupted at many places in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir valley
The students of Kashmir University and Islamic University Awantipora also took out protest marches against the horrific incident. Reports of protesters clashing with the government forces have also been received from various parts of the valley.
As already reported police have constituted a special investigation team to investigate the alleged rape case. The accused has been arrested. SSP Bandipora, Rahul Malik said the SIT comprising SDPO Sumbal, SHO Sumbal and Senior Prosecuting Officer would investigate into the entire case. He said the police “are treating the accused as major” and the certificate that was uploaded on the social media regarding the age of the accused was “fake”. He appealed to the people to not pay heed to any rumours and have “faith in the police”. A police official said the age of the accused will be determined on the basis of “medical test” to be conducted by a team of senior doctors.
Responding to the public outcry against the rape of Sumbal minor girl Divisional Commissioner Kashmir called a press conference in Srinagar during which he while asking people to maintain peace and calm assured that the investigation already taken up by the police would be fast paced to punish the guilty and sought cooperation from the people during the course of investigations.
