Although a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted following the death of a Class 5 tribal girl who allegedly delivered a stillborn child after being subjected to an illegal termination of pregnancy, demands for action against community leaders who allegedly tried to hush up the heinous incident have gained momentum.
After Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Talib Hussain demanded the registration of an FIR against those who allegedly attempted to hush up the incident, the Tribal Gujjar Bakarwal Welfare Foundation urged the authorities to ensure the safety and security of the victim's family, which has alleged that the accused enjoy considerable influence in the area.
Foundation Chairman Dr Naseeb Ali, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), told The International Business Times that some influential people in the area had allegedly attempted to hush up the incident by threatening and offering money to the economically vulnerable tribal family.
"The family of the accused persons is influential, and attempts are allegedly being made through threats, pressure or other means to influence the economically vulnerable nomadic family of the deceased child and hush up the matter," Dr Ali said.
He demanded that the police and civil administration immediately ensure the safety and security of the victim's family and material witnesses. He also called for strict measures to ensure that no person, irrespective of social or political influence, is allowed to interfere with the investigation, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the course of justice.
He pointed out that the allegations were particularly disturbing because one of the accused is stated to have been the teacher of the deceased child.
"A teacher occupies a position of trust, responsibility and authority and is expected to protect and guide children entrusted to his care," he said, adding, "Any sexual exploitation of a child by a person occupying such a position of trust constitutes an extremely grave betrayal of that relationship and demands the strictest response permissible under law."
Meanwhile, members of the Foundation expressed profound shock, anguish and grave concern over the incident. They said that, according to information appearing in various media reports, the child was allegedly subjected to sexual assault by her school teacher, Khalid Hussain Sheikh, over a prolonged period, resulting in pregnancy.
It has further been reported that the child was allegedly administered pregnancy-termination medication in circumstances involving Khalid Hussain and his brother, Tariq Hussain, following which the child and her newborn tragically died.
The Foundation emphasised that these allegations require a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation, with responsibility fixed strictly in accordance with law.
SIT constituted to probe heinous incident
Following the death of the 12-year-old girl, who allegedly delivered a stillborn child after an illegal termination of pregnancy, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar, Naresh Singh, constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The SIT has been tasked with probing the alleged repeated sexual assault, illegal termination of pregnancy and subsequent deaths of the girl and her stillborn child in Chatroo, Kishtwar.
The SIT is headed by ASP Kishtwar Pardeep Singh Goria. Its members include SDPO Chatroo Nitish Kumar, SHO Chatroo Inspector Rishi Kumar and three other police officers.
According to the police, the victim, a Class 5 student at Government Middle School in Chatroo and belonging to the Gujjar community, died while being taken to a hospital in Jammu after an alleged forced and illegal termination of her pregnancy resulted in a stillbirth.
The case took a tragic turn when the accused and his brother allegedly forced the victim to orally ingest medicines to terminate the pregnancy.
When the minor's health rapidly deteriorated after she delivered a stillborn baby, she was rushed to Kishtwar District Hospital and later transferred to Doda District Hospital. She was eventually placed in an ambulance bound for Jammu but succumbed to her medical complications on the Dhar Road during the journey.
Police have arrested the alleged prime accused, headmaster Khalid Hussain Sheikh, 42, and his brother, Tariq Hussain.
