On 18th August, a 15-year-old girl was raped by a Muslim boy in Marwah which is located in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, which led to massive protests by Hindus including Sanatan Dharam Sabha in the area following the high-handedness of the authorities. On 20th August 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 a First Information Report (FIR) had been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
𝐀 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐚𝐥, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐡, 𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫.
— Manu Khajuria 🇮🇳 (@KhajuriaManu) August 20, 2024
To describe the remoteness of these mountain towns and villages of Jammu Region is hard. You have to visit these places to… pic.twitter.com/kxfg1k56Dj
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Dr Mohammad Ashraf informed, “Following the incident that led to protests and subsequent police action, the district administration has ordered a magisterial probe and has also attached Marwah SHO inspector Zaheer Iqbal.”
According to him, SHO Zaheer Iqbal, who used force and ordered to lathi charge the peaceful female demonstrators, has been attached to district police lines. Protesters charged that the SHO was protecting the accused and his family. After the protests by the locals against the police, the SDM went to the victim’s hamlet and attempted to placate the agitators.
Meanwhile, enraged people broke into the accused’s home and attempted to set it on fire as he ran away from there with his family members. They were attacked by the villagers on 19th August upon their return, as the situation escalated.
Dr Mohammad Ashraf announced that the village police post will be reinforced and staffed with 12 officers in response to the citizens’ demands. He has been allocated a month by the administration to carry out the inquiry and produce a comprehensive factual report.
“The administration has also deputed two teachers to the village for 12 students of Classes 9 and 10 as they have to walk through a jungle to reach their school in Marwah. Besides wild animals, there are other possible dangers that lurk in the jungles of Marwah,” he mentioned.
The officer added that a group of 20 to 30 females taking part in a protest march “were stopped and being pacified, but due to resistance, one girl got injured,” alluding to videos that have been making the rounds on social media.
He conveyed that the Kishtwar District Magistrate has taken cognisance of the matter and is looking into the veracity of the clips. The SDM implored everyone to uphold the peace and issued a strong warning to anyone caught exploiting the incident to ruin the atmosphere.
“In clarification to the videos being circulating on social media regarding the Marwah incident, the preliminary report has prima facie found that 20-30 women were part of a protest march. They were stopped and pacified, but due to resentment and counter-resistance, the incident seemingly occurred when the police attempted to resist the movement. However, Kishtwar District Magistrate has taken cognisance of the matter to ascertain the facts. The authenticity of the clips is being scrutinised. The general public is requested to extend full cooperation to maintain peace and tranquillity and not to fall prey to any misinformation that may affect the region’s peace,” the official statement read.
A memo was presented to Rajesh Kumar Shavan, the deputy commissioner of Kishtwar, by a delegation of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Dachhan, requesting severe punishment for the culprits. A memo was also given to DM and SSP requesting security for the Hindu minority in the Hanzel and Chanjer areas as well as a different plan so that girls won’t have to travel long distances through forested areas to get to school.
