New Delhi: The rape of a three-year-old girl in Sumbal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district has sparked protests across the Valley with the demand to sentence the accused.  

According to reports, all shops and establishments, including schools and colleges, remained closed as protesters demanded the strongest punishment possible for the accused.

In the complaint received by the cops, the family of the victim has alleged that the minor girl was raped just before iftar (evening meal during the holy month of Ramzan). They said that the accused lured her by showing candy, abducted and then raped her.

 

Following the complaint, police arrested a person who was identified as Tahir Ahmad Mir.

The case took a turn when the principal of a private school allegedly issued a fake date of birth certificate in favour of the accused youth. The deputy commissioner of Srinagar Shahid Choudary expressed shock over the certificate that was issued for defending the rapist.

“Only in this part of the world, a principal, not being a competent authority goes beyond the law to “save a rape accused”. Shame!,” he tweeted.

 

IAS-officer-turned-politician Shah Faesal said, “Nothing should stop @bandiporapolice from sending the Trigam rapist to gallows. The birth certificate of the culprit, I am told, is fake. It has no value. Treat him as an adult and hang him. Entire Kashmir is with you @rmalikjk.”

SSP Bandipora Rahul Malik said that the fake date of birth certificate was issued by Ali Mohammad Thakur, principal of High School Islamia Educational Trust in Trigam. The principal has been called by the police for questioning. Police have also constituted a special investigating team (SIT) to probe the matter.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police's investigation, the accused is not a juvenile as claimed by the school authorities. Scientific evidence and medical tests are being conducted to establish his correct age.

Reports of protests have been coming from various parts of Kashmir since the incident came to light. People are demanding immediate and exemplary action against the rapist.

Political leaders of Kashmir expressed their anger on the incident and demanded strict action against the accused. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said Shariah law seems apt to deal with such cases. 

“Mortified to hear about the rape of a 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 was this child's fault? Times like these, Shariah law seems apt so that such paedophiles are stoned to death,” she tweeted.