Jammu: Outrage over the death of a minor schoolgirl from Chatroo in Kishtwar following an alleged sexual assault and a pregnancy-termination attempt spread to Jammu on Saturday, with protests and demands for stringent action against all those found responsible.
The Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasabha has condemned the incident and demanded a fast-track trial, saying justice should be delivered to the victim’s family within three months. The organisation has also sought the maximum punishment for the accused and action against anyone found involved in the alleged illegal termination of pregnancy or attempts to suppress the matter.
According to reports, the minor was allegedly sexually assaulted by a government school teacher, identified in police and media reports as Khalid Hussain Sheikh. She subsequently became pregnant and died while being shifted for medical treatment following an alleged attempt to terminate the pregnancy.
Police have arrested the accused teacher and his brother in connection with the case. An FIR has been registered at Police Station Chatroo under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The teacher has also been suspended by the Education Department.
Reports quoting officials said the case involves allegations of repeated sexual assault and an attempt to terminate the minor’s pregnancy. The exact sequence of medical treatment and the circumstances leading to the girl’s death are part of the ongoing investigation.
The issue also triggered a protest at Nai Basti Market, Jammu, where shopkeepers led by Nai Basti Market Association president Naveen Gupta and former corporator Pawan Singh.
The protesters raised slogans condemning the alleged crime and burnt an effigy of the accused. Addressing the gathering, Pawan Singh termed the suspension of the accused teacher insufficient and appealed to the Lieutenant Governor to ensure the strictest punishment under law.
Separately, advocate Saba Choudhary held a media interaction at the Court Complex in Jammu and demanded strict action in the case.
She condemned the alleged sexual assault of the minor by her teacher and called for stringent punishment for those found guilty. She also appreciated the police action and said the accused had been booked under relevant provisions of the BNS and POCSO Act.
Choudhary further demanded that anyone found to have attempted to conceal the incident or facilitated an illegal termination of pregnancy should also face investigation and legal action.
The incident has triggered widespread anger in Kishtwar, with protests reported in Chatroo, Kishtwar town and other areas. A shutdown was also observed in parts of the Chatroo belt following the girl’s death, while people demanded a thorough investigation and accountability.
Students at Government Degree College Doda also reportedly protested on Saturday, demanding strict action against everyone found responsible for the girl’s death.
The Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasabha said the incident had united Gujjar organisations and families across several states in support of the victim’s family. It warned that any delay in the investigation or trial could lead to protests in Kishtwar and other parts of the country.
The organisation said its priority was justice for the victim and accountability for every person found to have played a role in the alleged crime or subsequent events.
With the police investigation underway, authorities are expected to establish the complete sequence of events surrounding the alleged assault, the pregnancy, the attempted termination and the circumstances leading to the minor’s death.
