Mainstream political leaders, separatist, Bar association condemn Bandipora incident | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, May 13 (KNO) : The rape of a minor girl in Sumbal area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district continued to receive wide spread condemnations on Monday. The mainstream politicians, parties, pro-freedom leaders and other associations condemned the incident today, demanding stringent action against the involved person. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has strongly condemned the rape of three-year-old in Bandipora district, describing the incident as very shameful, heinous and blot on rich culture of Kashmir. The party also sought exemplary punishment to the culprit, on fast track basis inorder to send a strong message that such incident in the society would not go unheard, unpunished. In a statement issued to KNO, JKPCC has strongly condemned the rape of three year old and said Congress Party feels anguished and pained over this shameful act and demands exemplary punishment to this culprit, on fast tract basis and emphasize investigating agencies to ensure that the culprit is punished at the earliest. CPI (M) senior leader and former MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said that the rape of a three-year-old girl in Sumbal area of Bandipora district in north Kashmir is most shameful act and against the human values. “There is a need for a comprehensive campaign against the obscurantism, exploitation and violence against the women,” he said. Tarigami as per a statement issued to KNO, the gruesome incident is a slap on the social fabric of Kashmir. “There should be no room for those who shield the criminals under the one garb or the other. We hope that governor administration will probe the incident on fast track basis and punish the culprit on fast track trial. It is shocking incident and calls for strictest possible punishment to the perpetrator,” he said. Strongly condemning the rape of a three-year old girl in Sumbal area of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Vice President and former MLC G N Monga said perpetrator of such a heinous crime must be brought to book. Appealing the people to main calm, he as per a statement issued to KNO said, “The heinous crime of rape of a minor girl has shocked the entire state. The case must be investigated thoroughly, and result of the investigation should be made public. Severe punishment should be served to the person behind the crime.” Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference (M) while terming the rape of Tregam girl as barbaric and gruesome expressed deep shock and pain and demanded an exemplary punishment to the culprit involved in the act that has left the conscience of every Kashmiri shaken. According to a statement issued to KNO, the amalgam said that last year also a brutal rape and murder of a minor nomadic girl was witnessed in Kishtwar and now the one at north Kashmir’s Bandipora district which reflects the deep rot in our society and the level of waywardness and moral degradation that has gripped the Valley. Hurriyat (M) demanded that the investigations be conducted on a fast track basis so that the culprit is brought to book without any further delay and punished sternly so that no such act is repeated in future. Hurriyat appealed to all to maintain sectarian harmony and urged common masses to show a united face in this hour of crisis. Expressing solidarity with the family of the victim Hurriyat said that all of Kashmir stands in unison in demanding sternest possible punishment to the culprit. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Chairman Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai expressed his deep shock and anger over the horrific and shameful act of minor's alleged rape. He as per a statement issued to KNO described the shameful act not only shocking but a collective societal shame. “This gruesome incident is a slap on our social fabric of Kashmir and a time of introspection where we are heading be it on religious, social or moral obligations,” he said. He demanded severe and harshest punishment to the guilty and a fast track probe to the incident involved in this barbaric and heinous crime. He also offered deepest and heartbroken pain and sympathy with the affected family and prayed for their courage to bear this deep trauma. Moreover, J&K High Court Bar Association Srinagar, strongly condemned the kidnapping and rape of a minor girl, expressing its solidarity with the victim and her family. The Bar Association as per a statement issued to KNO demanded that the matter should be got investigated through a Special Investigating Team, which should be headed by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police and the challan of the case be put up before a Fast Track Court immediately and the proceedings thereof be conducted on day to day basis so that exemplary punishment is awarded to the accused. In an emergency general body meeting held here today in the High Court Complex, the members also condemned the unnecessary and irrational use of force against the civilian population at Magam, who were protesting against the aforesaid gruesome act in which scores of people got injured due to pellets and teargas shells. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief spokesman, Muhammad Rafiq Dar stated that the rape incident of a minor girl is not only highly condemnable but intolerable and unforgivable as well. “The human beast who is involved in this inhuman and gruesome act deserves an immediate, severe and exemplary punishment after it is proved following the thorough investigations,” he added. According to a statement issued to KNO, he said that a couple incidents of this nature that took place here has stained the otherwise saintly valley of Kashmir that has given a bad name to our society and is proving fatal to our sacred cause of freedom movement. Expressing shock over the Sumbal tragedy, Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) has said that had culprits of such heinous crimes been punished sternly in past, Sumbal tragedy would not have taken place. Giving example of Kathua tragedy, JKDFP said that had culprits been given stern punishment, it would have worked and the anti-human elements would have thought twice before carrying out their inhuman act at Sumbal. The party however, said that majority of the Kashmiri youth are living pious lives but some black sheep are bringing bad name for the whole society. The JKDFP Spokesperson said in a statement that what happened in Sumbal is a shame for all of us. We must hang our heads in shame and think seriously how such heartless criminals are reined, who are time and again injuring our soul and heart. It is important to give this issue a serious thought and decide the future course of action.(KNO)