3-year-old allegedly raped in Kashmir's Bandipora, stone rapist to death, says Mehbooba Mufti

In a shocking incident, a three-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Sumbal village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district. The accused identified as Tahir Ahmad Mir has been arrested by local police. On Sunday, the incident triggered massive protests across the Valley and shutdown has been called by religious groups for today. The protests were led by president Anjuman Shari Shian Aga Syed Hasan Almosvi Alsafvi. The incident has evoked unambiguous condemnations cutting across political and ideological divides. 

Following protests in various parts, police had to fire teargas shells to diffuse crowds. Six protestors sustained minor injuries following clashes with police. The authorities had to snap internet services in north Kashmir and parts of central Kashmir to calm tensions.

According to toddler's father, the accused took the minor to a nearby government school. The time was near to the pre-dawn prayers. The minor made no signs returning home. Her family members soon started panicking and went out to look for her. 

They were unable to trace her until they heard her cries from the washroom of a local school which is located very near to their home. They opened the door of the toilet only to see her lying down.

The minor soon told them that she was brought here by some elder after buying her chewing gum. Her parents started searching for the accused and he was in the same shop where he bought her the chewing gum.

“The accused bought five chewing gums and two shampoo packets. The next day, the shopkeeper is said to have found used shampoo packets at the spot where the minor was allegedly raped,” according to a media report. Police have constituted a special investigating team to probe the case. SIT comprising SDPO Sumbal, SHO Sumbal, and Senior Prosecuting Officer would investigate into the entire case, according to SSP Bandipora.

Meanwhile, condemning the incident former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, said that such people should be “stoned to death.” “Mortified to hear about the rape of a 3-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.

Senior separatist Syed Ali Geelani making a fervent appeal to the people for patience, discipline he asked people “to keep a constant vigil on the breeding social evils and nude fashions which have ruined our social fabric”.

Calling for Valley-wide shutdown today, Itehadul Muslimeen president Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari said, ‘the presence of people with such ill intentions are proving a rot for the society known for upholding its moral values for centuries. There is a dire need for evolving a joint strategy to deal with these elements,” he said. 

"Deeply disturbed by the shocking heinous crime committed on a 3-year-old child in Sumbal. Such repeated incidents raise a serious question mark on how much of our moral and religious values have been imbibed within us and are reflected in our collective behaviour as a society,” Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tweeted. “Appeal all to maintain calm and introspect while demanding stern punishment and speedy justice for the victim,” he added.