SRINAGAR:
A 20-year-old man has been arrested in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly raping a minor days after the rape of a 3-year-old in Bandipore district, about 50 km away, sparked massive outrage across the state.
The family of a teenage girl in the Harran village of Ganderbal area in central Kashmir filed a police complaint against Muhammad Aasif Wani on May 12 and accused him of raping the girl, police said on Tuesday.
A disturbing video of the girl, spitting blood and shaking in pain was also shared by several social media users. However, many social media users urged tweeps to not share the child’s picture or video.
A medical examination of the girl has been conducted and a special investigation team has been set up for a speedy probe. The case has been filedunder sections 451 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO).
Protests erupted across Jammu and Kashmir after a three-year-old girl was raped in Sumbal area of Bandipora in north Kashmir last week allegedly by a local who claims to be a minor. Schools and colleges were closed in the region amid massive outrage. The accused had given the child some sweets and taken her to an isolated courtyard in Trigam village, where she was assaulted.
On social media channels, the hashtag #JusticeForAimanZehra went viral, with people expressing disgust and horror at the crime and demanding justice. While media reports provided different number for the age of the accused, Tahir Ashraf Mir, protests erupted after he submitted documents to prove he is underage. Underage convicts are tried in India’s juvenile courts and handed lenient sentences.
Tweep @Priyyaa_x wrote: “A three-year-old girl raped by a 27-year-old man? I’m disgusted. Can these monsters not control their sexual desires? 3 YEARS OLD. That’s a child. She was coughing blood. She had bruised eyes. That’s a traumatic experience that will stay with her forever. #JusticeForAimanZehra”
Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti among other political leaderscondemned the incident. Several political parties and religious and social groups have demanded that the investigation be fast-tracked.
Its not been a year ever since we lost Asifa who is from the same Jammu and Kashmir. The most annoying part is that, a school has produced a certificate stating that the rapist is just 10 years old thus trying to reduce the punishment by making this as a minor’s crime. Media has not shown great interest on this issue since the media felt that it is important to cover the Indian Premiere League and the Parliament elections
Recently, the government issued a law stating that the rapist could be sentenced to death. But still, there are certain morons trying to fake a 20-year-old pig to be a miniature pig. The school management which produced this fake age certificate should be sentenced to death along with the rapist. Let’s pray for Aiman Zehra to get well soon!