Now Reading: Gujjar body demands child safety audit after girl raped, killed in Kishtwar
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Gujjar body demands child safety audit after girl raped, killed in Kishtwar
The Tribal Gujjar Bakkarwal Welfare Foundation (TGBWF) has demanded a comprehensive child-safety audit in educational institutions following the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old tribal girl in Kishtwar. The Foundation, in…
The Tribal Gujjar Bakkarwal Welfare Foundation (TGBWF) has demanded a comprehensive child-safety audit in educational institutions following the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old tribal girl in Kishtwar. The Foundation, in a statement, said the Class 5 student was allegedly sexually assaulted over a prolonged period by her school teacher, Khalid Hussain, resulting in pregnancy. It was further alleged that the teacher and his brother, Tariq Hussain, administered pregnancy-termination medication, after which the child and the newborn died.
The Foundation expressed serious concern over reports that the accused's family is influential and is allegedly pressuring the economically vulnerable nomadic family of the victim to hush up the matter. It demanded the police and civil administration ensure the safety of the victim's family and witnesses, and that no person, irrespective of influence, be allowed to interfere with the investigation. The Foundation also urged the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Child Welfare Committee to probe whether other children in the school were abused.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case highlights the acute vulnerability of children from nomadic Gujjar-Bakarwal communities, who face disrupted schooling, geographic isolation, and limited access to child-protection mechanisms. The demand for a school-wide audit follows past instances where single cases of abuse in remote areas later revealed multiple victims. Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), a teacher convicted of sexual assault faces a minimum of 10 years in prison, with the punishment increasing if the child becomes pregnant. The key signal to watch is whether the NCPCR orders a wider inquiry beyond this one incident, which could set a precedent for safeguarding in migratory communities across Jammu and Kashmir.
Source: greaterkashmir.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
