Protests across Kashmir Valley over rape of 3-year old in Bandipora

Markets were closed in Bandipora, Sopore, Badgam and Baramulla towns but shutdown call given by the Itihadul Muslimeen, a religious organisation, had a partial effect in Srinagar city.

Most schools, shops and other business establishments in the city remained shut due to the strike, officials said.

They said public transport was also affected by the strike. However, government offices and banks remained open, the officials said.

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

Students of Kashmir University, Central University and the Islamic University of Science and Technology boycotted classes and held protests.

Members of the High Court Bar Association stayed away from courts to express solidarity with the victim.

Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, separatist leaders, as well as a number of social, religious and political groups expressed shock over the incident.

Police on Monday detained the principal of a private school who issued a minor certificate for the rape accused, Tahir Ahmad Mir, who has already been arrested. Mir's father has given a statement that his son is 20 years old, said the police.

Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been set up to fast-track the probe.

Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has appealed people to maintain harmony and ensure that miscreants were prevented from stoking sectarian strife using the most incident.

'Itehadul Muslimeen' – a religious organisation which is also a constituent of moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference - Sunday called for a complete shutdown across the Kashmir Valley on Monday against the alleged rape of the girl at Sumbal in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.

In a statement, 'Itehadul Muslimeen' president Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari termed the rape as a blot on the face of humanity.

“The presence of people with such ill intentions is proving a rot for the society known for upholding its moral values for centuries. There is a dire need for evolving a joint strategy to deal with these elements,” he said.

Ansari demand stern punishment to the culprit.

“There should be no leniency adopted while dealing with the person involved in this act. On the one hand, the victim is battling for her life but on the other hand, efforts are being made to save the culprit which is a serious concern,” he said.

Preliminary medical exam of accused in 3-yr-old girl's rape shows that he is not minor

Preliminary medical examination of a youth accused in the case has shown that he is not a juvenile, police said on Monday.

"We are treating the accused as a major and not as a juvenile," a senior police official told PTI.

He said the preliminary medical examination of the accused, who has been arrested by the police, suggests that he is an adult.

"The doctors have given an opinion that he is around 20-years-old," the official said.

He said the police have also detained the principal of a school, who issued a birth certificate for the accused showing his date of birth as 23 July, 2009.

"The principal is under the custody and is being questioned," the official said.

He said the police are investigating the case and will take it to the logical conclusion.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik sought exemplary punishment to whoever raped a minor in Bandipora district as widespread protests rocked the Kashmir Valley "Governor has expressed deep shock and pain over the extremely heinous incident of rape of a 3-year-old girl from Bandipora," a Raj Bhawan statement said.

It said the Governor spoke to S.P. Pani, Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Kashmir, and directed him "to work swiftly in the case and ensure that the culprit gets exemplary punishment for this shameful act".

The Governor asked religious leaders of different communities to deplore this gruesome incident and appealed to the people to remain calm and not let "anti-social elements disturb peace and harmony in the society".