A sixth accused was arrested in relation to the rape and death case of a 14-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his immediate intervention and adequate protection for the victim’s family and witnesses given their vulnerable socio-economic background. Flagging systemic lapses, the association has also called for a comprehensive child-safety audit of schools across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those catering to tribal and nomadic children in remote and far-flung areas, along with strict implementation of POCSO safeguards, proper staff verification and child-friendly complaint mechanisms.
In his letter, National Convenor Nasir Khuehami described the incident as deeply disturbing and said the minor girl from the Gujjar-Bakarwal community was allegedly raped repeatedly over several months by her teacher, which led to pregnancy and her tragic death while being shifted for specialised treatment after an alleged botched attempt to terminate the pregnancy. “Any attempt to intimidate, pressurise or silence the victim’s family or witnesses must be dealt with firmly under law,” Khuehami said.
