Chenab Valley shuts down over minor's rape-death

Srinagar: Several parts of Chenab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir observed a shutdown on Thursday over the alleged rape and death of a minor tribal girl in Chatroo area of Kishtwar district. Her teacher is the prime accused.

Police have arrested government teacher Khalid Ahmed Sheikh, a Grade-II teacher and in-charge headmaster of Middle School Bumalpora in Inderwal, along with his brother on August 20. A total of five people have been apprehended by the police so far.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and public transport was sparse across Kishtwar district and some parts of Doda and Ramban districts. The strike was called by the Majlis-e-Shura and supported by Sanatan Dharam Sabha.


“This incident has shaken us all and it should be investigated at the highest level with priority. A teacher is a guardian angel but here he turned out to be satan,” said Riyaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper from Doda. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in all towns and major roads across the region even as peaceful protests were held demanding “severe and strict punishment for the accused.”

The incident was reported last week, when the 14-year-old victim died allegedly due to pregnancy complications after giving birth to a premature baby. Following the death and public uproar, police registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to rape and death caused by miscarriage, among other offences, besides the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

“When she complained of sexual assault a few months back, a section of elders in the area tried to hush the matter and shifted the blame to some other people,” said Nadeem Khan, a resident of Kishtwar. Earlier this month, when she complained of acute pain, the accused conspired to perform an abortion at different government health facilities in Kishtwar and Doda.

During the investigation, police allegedly found that Sheikh had repeatedly sexually assaulted the minor, resulting in her pregnancy. The probe further revealed that the accused, allegedly with help of his brother, administered medicines purportedly to terminate her pregnancy, police said.

Officials said that the minor was initially taken to the Public Health Centre in Chatroo and was later shifted to the District Hospital, Kishtwar, by the accused and others, allegedly in connivance with a hospital daily-wage worker who is a sweeper.

She underwent medical treatment and an ultrasound examination before being referred to another facility, where an attempt was allegedly made to induce delivery through surgery. She delivered a stillborn child during the procedure and subsequently died.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional SP Kishtwar Pardeep Singh was constituted to conduct a time-bound probe. The SIT comprised Deputy Superintendent of Police Nitish Sharma, Chatroo SHO Inspector Rishi Kumar and other officers.

Meanwhile, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) J&K and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar. The notice, issued on August 25 follows a complaint submitted by the Tribal Gujjar Bakkarwal Welfare Foundation (TGBWF) through its member trustee, Kabir Ahmed on August 24.