The Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Kishtwar, presided over by Sudhir Kumar Khajuria, has rejected the bail applications of three accused persons, including two female employees of the Health Department, in a case involving the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl, an alleged attempt to terminate her pregnancy and her subsequent death.
The accused whose bail applications were dismissed include Sonika Parihar, a staff nurse at District Hospital, Kishtwar; Zareena Begum, a sanitation worker at the same hospital; and Peer Baksh, a community leader.
The court took into consideration the ongoing investigation, the material collected by the investigating agency, and the stage of the proceedings while declining to grant bail to the three accused.
Bail plea of staff nurse rejected
In the case concerning Sonika Parihar, the prosecution alleged that she, while serving as a staff nurse at District Hospital, Kishtwar, advised medication in connection with an alleged attempt to terminate the minor girl's pregnancy.
The court noted that witness statements recorded under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), along with call detail records, had been collected. However, as the investigation was still underway, the court declined to grant her bail at this stage.
Sanitation worker's bail plea also dismissed.
The court also rejected the bail application of Zareena Begum, who was employed as a sanitation worker at District Hospital, Kishtwar.
According to the prosecution, she allegedly performed an episiotomy on the minor girl in the labour room without obtaining the requisite permission or seeking advice from the concerned doctors or nursing staff.
While considering her bail plea, the court noted that the investigation remained in progress and that the investigating agency had collected witness statements and call detail records.
Court declines bail to community leader Peer Baksh
The third bail application, filed by Peer Baksh, was also dismissed.
The prosecution alleged that Peer Baksh organised meetings described as Grameen Panchayats at his residence and pressured the victim's family not to approach the legal authorities. It further alleged that he was part of a conspiracy involving other accused persons in connection with the alleged termination of the pregnancy.
The court observed that witness statements and call detail records had been collected, while the investigation remained underway.
The court also examined medical documents submitted by Peer Baksh, which reportedly indicated that he had been admitted to a hospital from August 24 to 26, 2026. However, the court found that the records did not establish a life-threatening medical condition that would warrant the grant of bail at this stage.
Case involves alleged sexual assault and death of minor student
As reported earlier, an officiating headmaster of a government school in the Chatroo area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district was arrested along with his brother following the death of a 12-year-old tribal girl who was a student at the school. The girl died while being taken for medical treatment after her pregnancy came to light.
The child, a Class 5 student at a government middle school in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district, belonged to a poor family.
Following the registration of the case, the Chief Education Officer, Kishtwar, placed the accused under suspension.
According to local accounts, the girl developed a fever about ten days before her death. Her mother took her to a local practitioner, where a medical examination reportedly revealed that the child was pregnant.
What followed was a desperate attempt to save her life. As her condition deteriorated, the family rushed her from Chatroo to Kishtwar, then to Doda and finally towards Jammu for further medical treatment. However, the girl died en route at Batote while being taken to hospital.
According to FIR No. 34/2026, registered at Police Station Chatroo, the accused is Khalid Hussain, son of Ghulam Mohammad and a resident of Gorinal. He was serving as a physical education teacher at the school and was described in the FIR as its officiating headmaster.
Police allege that Hussain subjected the minor to repeated sexual assault, resulting in her pregnancy.
