SRINAGAR Mainstream and separatist parties as well as a number of social, religious and political groups Monday expressed shock over ghastly rape of a minor girl in Sumbal area of Bandipora district.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, termed the incident as shocking, unfortunate, gruesome and inhumane.
The JRL said the incident needs a thorough investigations and the culprit of this immoral act needs to be awarded an exemplary punishment.
JRL in a statement said that the incident has not only left shaken the conscience of every Kashmiri badly but also brought every head down in shame.
While this shameful and heart-breaking incident has pierced through our hearts and minds and left all of us shocked, some people might take advantage and try to divide us in the name of sects and tribes, it said in a statement.
The affected kid belongs to all of us and we all share the pain and agony of her family and stand firmly behind them, they added. We all want the culprit to be brought to justice and justice for her and affected family, the statement said.
JRL urged people across all sections to maintain unity and brotherhood on all fronts, and to exhibit patience and discipline.
National Conference held a meeting presided over by partys general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar.
Sagar, while condemning the incident, said, Not until half of our population represented by women and girls can live free from fear, violence and everyday insecurity, can we think of a developed state. The rape incident of a minor girl that has occurred the other day has ashamed the humanity.
The perpetrators of the heinous crime should be given exemplary punishment. The sexual assaults on the women folk have seen an exponential increase in the past few decades. We condemn the incident in unequivocal terms, he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) described the incident as shameful, heinous and blot on rich culture of Kashmir.
The party sought exemplary punishment to the culprit, on fast track basis in order to send a strong message that such incident in the society would not go unheard and unpunished. CPI(M) leader M Yousuf Tarigami and Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vice President Abdul Rahman Veeri also condemned the incident and sought exemplary punishment for the culprit.
Seeking a fast track probe into the rape of a three-year-old in Bandipora, the Kashmir Economic Alliance, Chairman, Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan said the government should redouble the efforts in taking the case to the logical conclusion at an earliest.
Khan, who also heads the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, such shameful incidents would keep taking place unless capital punishment in made mandatory for such criminals.
DC Budgam cautions Shia-Sunni body against vested interests
Deputy Commissioner Budgam Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar along with SP Budgam Amod Ashok Nagpure Monday held a meeting with members of Shia-Sunni Coordination Committee Budgam at New Conference Hall Budgam.
The meeting was called in the backdrop of spontaneous protests throughout Budgam following the horrific rape of a minor girl in Bandipora.
At the outset, participants condemned the horrific and dastardly act of criminality. While expressing shock over the incident, DC Budgam told the gathering that all humans irrespective of religions are outraged and want a speedy investigation/ trial of the incident so that culprit is dealt with sternly as per law and justice be done with the victim and its family, an official spokesperson said.
She further added though the anger against it is genuine and all should protest against it peacefully but cautioned the members of the committee against any attempts by the vested interests to give it a sectarian touch, the spokesperson said.
She urged upon the respectables of society to ensure calm and peaceful atmosphere in the district. SP Budgam also spoke on the occasion and said that preliminary action as warranted under the law has already been taken in the form of arrest of the accused.
He called for restraint from the protestors and told the committee members to ensure peaceful environment.
The participants assured the administration of their support in keeping the situation under control. They demanded toughest action against the person who committed this crime, the spokesperson said.
Among others, the meeting was also attended by ADDC, ADC, ACR, and DIO Budgam.
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