Minor Raped in Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Oct 3: A minor girl was raped in North Kashmir while she was grazing cattle in a forest area. The rapist has been arrested by police.

A police officer of North Kashmir, Dr Haseeb Mughal told Newsblaze that a person namely Salam Bhat of Zachaldara, Handwara area lodged a written complaint in Police Post, stating on September 26, 2007 his minor girl accompanied was raped.

Giving sequence of events, the police officer said that the minor girl namely Fareeda alias Amina and her brother left to graze cattle in fields near a nearby forest area. "While the girl and her younger brother were grazing the cattle, one person namely Altaf Ahmad Sheikh of the same was also grazing his cattle in the forest area."On noticing the minor girl, he gave an Rs 5 note to his brother and asked him to go and play somewhere. After the boy left the place, he took the girl aside and raped her", the police officer said.

He said that on this information, a case was registered and investigation taken up. "During the investigations and medical examination of the girl, it was proved that the girl has been raped", he said.

Accordingly, a manhunt was launched to track down the rapist. "After several raids, police managed to arrest the rapist. He is behind the bars", the police officer added.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

   _   _