Taking Suo Motu Cognisance Of Three-year Old’s Rape, J&K High Court Asks Police To File Status Report

Taking suo motu congnisance of the rape of a three-year old girl in Sumbal of Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the state High Court on Wednesday (15 May) directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to file the status report of the investigation, reports The Tribune.

A division bench of the J&K High Court comprising of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Tashi Rabstan asked the police to file a report by Thursday (16 May). However, after government lawyer’s plea to grant more time to the police for filing of the status report, the bench granted the time with directions to the IGP to file the same by 10am on Friday (17 May).

The girl was allegedly raped at Tarigram village of Sumbal on 8 May by a youth in her neighbourhood. Following the incident, there has been widespread outrage and violents protests across the valley. Colleges and other educational institutes in many districts were closed by the administration to prevent any untoward incident.

The accused, a resident of the same village, has been arrested by the state police. A special investigation team (SIT) has also been constituted by the J&K police in the wake of the protests.