SRINAGAR: The Kishtwar district administration has launched a magisterial inquiry into the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in Hanzal village in the remote Marwah area. The incident, which took place on Saturday, has led to the arrest of two suspects under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The situation in the mountainous Marwah belt, a distant and underdeveloped area of Kishtwar district, escalated when videos of protest demonstrations by locals went viral on social media. These videos purportedly show a group of 20-30 women protesting the alleged assault, with local police, led by Station House Officer (SHO) Zaheer Iqbal, reportedly using force to disperse the march. The women involved in the protest accused the SHO of attempting to shield the accused.
In response to the public outcry and subsequent unrest, the Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police, Abdul Qayoom, announced the suspension of SHO Zaheer Iqbal and confirmed the arrest of the two accused individuals. The district administration has also pledged a thorough investigation into the incident. Reports suggest that the SHO was also injured in the law and order situation.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dr Mohammad Ashraf, who visited the victim’s village to ease tensions, confirmed that the SHO had been attached following complaints of high-handedness. The SDM reassured the community that their concerns were being addressed, including the demand for enhanced security in the village. He also announced the deployment of 12 additional police officers to the local police post.
Tensions in the area reached a peak when angry villagers ransacked the house of one of the accused and attempted to set it ablaze. The accused and his family fled the scene, but upon their return, the situation nearly escalated further as villagers again tried to attack them.
Besides, the district administration has responded by deputing two teachers to the village to support the education of students in Classes 9 and 10, who currently face a perilous journey through dense forests to reach their school. The administration has given the SDM one month to complete the probe and submit a detailed report.
