J&K: 47 security personnel injured following protests against the rape of 3-yr-old

Forty-seven security personnel were injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district when stone pelting mobs went on the rampage following protests against the sexual assault of a 3-year-old girl. Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have condemned the alleged sexual assault demanding exemplary punishment to the perpetrators. The three-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in Sumbal area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district last week.

Srinagar: The rape of a 3-year-old girl in the Sumbal area of Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district triggered massive protests at various places in the valley forcing businesses, public transport and educational institutions to close down.

People in large numbers took to the streets across the state capital and other places demanding death penalty for the man accused of raping the girl last week.

Forty-seven security personnel were injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district when stone pelting mobs went on the rampage. At least one officer was in critical condition.

An official statement said an Assistant Commander of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was hit on the head by a stone during the clashes and he sustained a critical injury.

The mobs took to the streets to denounce the horrific rape in Bandipora district last week. The accused has already been arrested.

Clashes also occurred at a dozen other places between the security forces and stone-throwing mobs during the day.

In Budgam district, 20 youths were injured in clashes with the security forces.

At Khomeini Chowk in Bemina area on the outskirts of the city, clashes took place between protesters and security forces who fired pellets and tear smoke shells to disperse them.

Earlier, mainstream political parties and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir condemned the alleged sexual assault and demanded exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.

The three-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted in Sumbal area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district, prompting The Jammu and Kashmir Police to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident.

"The rape of a child in Tirgaam is a travesty. @JmuKmrPolice must ensure a speedy investigation with only one consideration and that is to identify the guilty, prepare a watertight case & ensure exemplary punishment to those responsible," National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah wrote on his twitter.

NC's chief spokesman Aga Syed Ruhullah also condemned the incident and urged the governor administration to constitute a time-bound investigation into the heinous act and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"The result of the investigation should be made public and severe punishment should be meted out to the guilty. The punishment should act as a deterrent," he said.

Ruhullah also urged the government to have the case tried by a fast track court.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said Shariah law seems apt to deal with such cases.

"Mortified to hear about the rape of a 3 yr old girl in Sumbal. What kind of a sick pervert would do this? Society often blames women for inviting unwanted attention but what was this child's fault? Times like these, Shariah law seems apt so that such paedophiles are stoned to death," Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference chairman Sajad Lone said the incident merits introspection.

"The tragedy in Tarigam Sumbal as beastly it merits serious social introspection. We need to seriously ponder on this mad sickness on the prowl. We need to work hard to rediscover the moral foundations of our society," Lone said in a tweet.

He said he had talked to Governor Satya Pal Malik and requested that the perpetrator of the crime be strongly dealt with.

Separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani also condemned the incident.

"Deeply disturbed by the shocking heinous crime committed on a 3-year-old child in Sumbal. Such repeated incidents raise a serious question mark on how much of our moral and religious values have been imbibed within us and are reflected in our collective behaviour as a society.

"Appeal all to maintain calm and introspect while demanding stern punishment and speedy justice for the victim," Mirwaiz said on Twitter.

In a statement, Geelani termed such incidents as a black stain on the social fabric and rich culture of the state.