Wednesday 13th May, 2026
Srinagar, May 13: Normal life was on Monday affected in the valley due to a strike called by a religious-cum-separatist organisation against rape of a 3-year-old girl in north Kashmir district of Bandipora.
Meanwhile, protests and clashes were reported against the rape from many parts of Kashmir, where all political parties, religious organizations and civil societies, besides general public have demanded stern punishment for the accused.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan on Monday appealed people to maintain peace, brotherhood and Law & Order, assuring that the enquiry of Sumbal rape incident is being conducted on fast track basis.
A police spokesperson said that there were no restrictions in any part of the valley though security forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.
Most shops and business establishments were closed though good a number of vehicles, including public transport, were plying on roads in Srinagar city.
Business activities were paralysed in main business hubs of the city, including Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Batmaloo, Dalgate, Regal Chowk, Moulana Azad road, Residency road and Mahraj Bazar.
Additional security forces, wearing bullet proof jackets and holding weapons and lathis in their hands, were seen patrolling the streets in some areas in downtown Srinagar, where people held peaceful protests against the rape of the minor.
The strike called by ‘Itehadul Muslimeen’ — a religious organisation which is also a constituent of moderate Hurriyat Conference — has a partial impact in uptown Srinagar, where some shops and business establishments were open.
A report from Baramulla said life was affected in this and other north Kashmir towns and tehsil headquarters, where most shops were closed and traffic was off the road in support of the strike. Additional security forces have been deployed in entire north Kashmir to prevent any law and order problem. However, a complete shutdown was observed in Sumbal and other adjoining areas in Bandipora.
Life also came to a grinding halt in central Kashmir district of Budgam while the strike had partial affected in Ganderbal. Normal life was partly affected in south Kashmir, where most shops and business establishments were closed though good a number of vehicles were plying on some routes.
The rape incident was severely criticized by all security of society, including former chief ministers — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and IAS officer-turned-politician Shah Faesal.
“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,” Mr Abdullah wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
“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,” Ms Mehbooba twitted.
“Nothing should stop @bandiporapolice from sending the Trigam rapist to gallows. The birth certificate of the culprit, I am told, is fake. It has no value. Treat him as an adult and hang him. Entire Kashmir is with you @rmalikjk,” Mr Faesal wrote on twitter.
Terming the incident as shameful act and against the human values, senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said there is a need for a comprehensive campaign against the obscurantism, exploitation and violence against the women.
UNI