SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: In Kashmir Valley, where rape incidents were once rare, the police is now receiving complaints about rape cases almost every other day.T his is not only a wake-up call for the society but also a time to enact more stringent laws against perpetrators, who are not only committing crime but also killing aspirations of victim and her parents.
A girl, who is determined to fulfill her dad’s dreams, a girl who is the most beloved princess of a family, a girl who single-handedly earns and supports her mom’s burdens, a girl who is even unaware what sex are being raped. On May 17, a minor girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by three persons including a juvenile in outskirts of Srinagar City. According to police soon after receiving complaint, FIR No.57/2022 was registered at police station Nigeen Hazratbal and within no time the accused trio was arrested. Police further said, that three persons kidnapped a girl from Taqdeer park Hazratbal and sexually assaulted her in a rented house at Mallabagh. “Accused trio are from Sopore area of district Barramula and were living in a rented home,” Police informed.
Within just 24 hours, Railway police arrested two persons for their allegedly kidnapping and raping a minor girl in Anantnag district.
According to reports, Railway police during routine track clearance spotted a girl with boys in a railway hut. Upon questioning, the girl alleged she had been kidnapped and raped by two boys, who were identified as Danish Ahmad Rather, son of Basheer Ahmad Rather and Mukhtar Ahmad Rather, son of Mohammad Shafi Rather, both residents of HassanporaTavela.
Meanwhile confirming this incident a police officer said that a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation is going on.
In another shocking incident on May 22, Police arrested a man for allegedly raping a 19-yr-old woman in Budgam district. As per police, accused namely Mudasir Ahmed Wani, resident of Zagoo Kharein was apprehended by police from Zagoo Khansahib within 5 hours after victim’s father lodged a complaint stating therein that his daughter was raped. FIR Number 67/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Khan Sahib and investigation taken up, police said. “Medical examination of the victim was conducted by a board of doctors at SDH Khansahib,” the official added.
The increasing number of rape cases in Kashmir Valley raises a question on the safety of women, as now there is not even a single day when no such case is reported. It is the need of the hour for quicker implementation of the laws for dispensing justice to victims. Locals of Kashmir Valley demanded that stringent laws, rules and regulations need to be incorporated as well as implemented with effective means in order to curb the menace from the society. Special commissions need to be set up in order to specifically look into such matters besides holding awareness programmes to make people aware of issues related to rape.