Cleric held for raping 7-yr-old at madrasa

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 14

A ‘maulvi’ (religious scholar) has been arrested for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl at a madrasa in the Katal Battal area of Jammu district.

The incident came to light after the mother of the victim lodged an FIR in the Nagrota police station, alleging that the cleric sexual exploited the minor on March 12.

The police have arrested Shahnawaz, a native of West Bengal, who is currently living in a madrasa in Katal Batal.

Police sources said the victim told her mother about the incident on Monday.

Bhushan Manhas, SHO, Nagrota police station, said the medical examination of the girl was conducted yesterday. “The mother of the victim lodged a complaint with the police following which we conducted raids and arrested the accused. An FIR has been registered in the case,” said Manhas.

This is the third incident in less than two months where minor children have been victimised in the Jammu region.

On January 17, the body of a minor Bakerwal girl, who was allegedly raped and murdered, was recovered from a forest area in Rasana village of Kathua district. Three persons, including two special police officers and a juvenile, have been arrested by the Crime Branch so far. Local residents, questioning the “lopsided investigation” by the Crime Branch, have been demanding a CBI probe into the case.

In another incident, a nine-year-old was found dead three days after he went missing from Bari Brahmana in Samba on March 4. The boy had gone to attend a religious congregation.