Hindu minor raped by Muslim boy in J&K's Kishtwar, SHO Zaheer Iqbal accused of protecting the accused, magisterial probe ordered
Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, India 
17 August, 2024
Case Summary
On August 18, a 15-year-old Hindu girl was raped by a Muslim boy in Marwah, located in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. On August 20, a magisterial investigation was launched into the incident and station house officer Zaheer Iqbal was suspended. According to Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abdul Qayoom, two youths had been arrested and an FIR had been lodged under the POCSO Act. Following a contentious incident involving police action against peaceful female protesters, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dr. Mohammad Ashraf announced a magisterial probe into the matter. The district administration has also reassigned Marwah SHO Inspector Zaheer Iqbal to the district police lines after allegations that he used force, including a lathi charge, on the demonstrators and protected the accused and his family. In response to public outrage, some villagers attempted to set fire to the accused's home, forcing him and his family to flee. A delegation from the Sanatan Dharam Sabha presented a memo to the deputy commissioner of Kishtwar, demanding severe punishment for the culprits and requesting enhanced security for the Hindu minority in the affected areas. They also called for alternative arrangements to ensure the safety of girls traveling to school.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
There are several cases where Muslim perpetrators harass, assault and rape Hindu victims based on their religious animosity. Especially in Kashmir, the plight of Hindus is a well documented fact. In the 1990s, Hindus faced an ethnic cleansing and exodus at the hands of the Muslim population of Kashmir specifically owing to their religious identity and the demand of Muslims of Kashmir to turn Kashmir into an Islamic land. In that context, there are strong suspicions that in this case too, the Hindu minor was raped and subjugated owing to her religious identity and the supremacist ideology that the Islamists of Kashmir espouse. However, since there is a lack of specific indication of religion being a motivating factor in the crime, this case is being categorised as 'undecided'. It will be added to the hate crime database if more information emerges.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 1
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 1
Age Group
- Minor 1
- Adult 0
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
