J&K High Court takes suo motu cognizance of Bandipora rape

Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 15

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The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday took a suo motu cognizance of the alleged rape of a three-year-old girl in Sumbal of Bandipora district.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Tashi Rabstan, in its order, directed the Inspector General of Police to file the status report of the investigation.

The incident has led to widespread anger across the Valley, with north Kashmir witnessing violent protests since the incident came to light on May 8.

Chief Justice Gita Mittal asked the police to file a report by Thursday. However, senior government lawyer Bashir Ahmad Dar pleaded that the police be allowed to file a fresh status report by Friday. This was granted by the bench with directions to the IGP to file the same by 10 am on Friday.

The girl was allegedly raped at Tarigam village of Sumbal on May 8 by a youth in her neighbourhood. 

There has been widespread outrage and violent protests in parts of Kashmir over the incident. The administration has closed colleges and other educational institutes in many districts as a precautionary measure.

The police have arrested the accused, a resident of the same village. As the protests spread, J&K Police constituted a SIT to probe the incident.