Valley boils over minor’s rape in Bandipora

Following  an outrage over horrific rape of a three-year-old girl in Trigam, Sumbal, a shutdown is being observed in various parts of Srinagar. The shutdown call is given by Itehadul Muslimeen against the rape of a minor girl in Sumbal area of Bandipora district.

An eyewitness said that all the shops and other business establishments’ area closed in different areas of the city, and a thin movement of traffic was seen on roads. A massive deployment, security forces were seen on the roads, particularly in downtown areas of the city.

Earlier, various political and socio-religious parties have condemned the incident and demanded stern action against those who are responsible for the act.

Protests erupted in various places in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday against the rape of a minor girl in Sumbal area of the Bandipora district last week.

Demanding stern punishment against the accused, scores of protesters assembled at Hygam in Baramulla and blocked the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway for several hours.

The protesters ,while demanding stern action against the accused, also sought immediate action against the school principal who had allegedly issued a certificate declaring the accused as a minor.

Protests were also reported from Bohripora and General bus stand Sopore.

All shops and business establishments are closed in Sopore and its outskirts while as traffic movement was thin on roads as well.

Reports said the students of degree college Sopore and higher secondary school held a peaceful protest at the Iqbal market area of the town.

Meanwhile,the students and the faculty members of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora in south Kashmir on Monday staged a peaceful protest in the varsity campus against the rape of a three-year-old girl in Sumbal area of the Bandipora district in north Kashmir.

Reports said that the teaching as well as non-teaching staff, besides deans of various departments, also participated in the peaceful protest.

The protesting students and faculty members demanded stern action against the accused.

Reports of peaceful protests across the valley are emerging from major towns and districts.

Notably,Police have already arrested the accused, who is a resident of Malikpora Trigam Sumbal.