IIOJK Gujjar body seeks action over Chatroo minor girl’s rape and death
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Tribal Gujjar Bakkerwal Welfare Foundation (TGBWF) has approached the Commission for Scheduled Tribes seeking urgent intervention into the repeated sexual assault of a 13-14-year-old Gujjar girl by a government employee in Chatroo, Kishtwar, her pregnancy and subsequent death.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a complaint, the community sought immediate protection and compensation for the family, preservation of evidence and an independent probe.
A case was registered at Police Station Chatroo against the culprit. TGBWF said that the accused exploited his position of authority to assault the Class V student, resulting in pregnancy.
The Foundation alleged attempts by the authorities to suppress the matter through threats, monetary offers and a community Panchayat convened after the pregnancy was disclosed.
Rights observers say incidents of sexual violence against women and children have seen a sharp rise in India and in occupied Jammu and Kashmir since the BJP came to power, with many cases involving impunity for perpetrators linked to the ruling dispensation or state institutions.
Critics argue that the Hindutva-driven policies have emboldened offenders while undermining accountability, leaving vulnerable communities, particularly minorities and tribal groups, exposed to greater risks.
