SRINAGAR — A court in Srinagar has convicted a man for raping a 14-year-old girl in Soura area of Srinagar in 2012 and termed it a “crime against society”.
According to the prosecution, police received a complaint from the father of the victim that he took his daughter for a check-up after she complained of abdominal pain and upon tests by the doctors, she was declared to be having a child in her womb.
The complainant said that upon inquiry by him and his wife, the minor disclosed that the person who resides in their neighborhood as a tenant, namely Irshad Ahmad Malik of Kokernag, raped her several times.
Subsequently, a case (FIR No. 33/2012) under Section 376 RPC was registered in Police Station Soura and the investigation culminated in the filing of the chargesheet under Section 376 RPC on June 23, 2012. Subsequently, the trial ensued and culminated in the conviction of the accused, Irshad Ahmad of Malik of Ahlan Gadwak Kokernag, presently at Anchar Soura.
“It is established that the accused at the time of committing the heinous crime of rape with a minor girl who was studying in 4th class, was a major married person living with his wife in a rented room in the neighborhood of the victim who used to go there for playing with the younger brother of the accused who was also putting up with them there,” presiding officer of 2nd Additional Session Judge Srinagar, Renu Dogra Gupta said after hearing the counsel for accused and additional Public Prosecutor Farooq Ahmad Malik.
“The accused had gagged her mouth and committed the heinous and barbaric crime of rape with her there and also threatened her not to disclose the same to anyone,” the court said and convicted him for the offence under 376 RPC (rape).
The accused being a major and married person, the court said, was fully aware of the consequences of his “barbaric act”. The crime of this nature against the child girl, the court said, is definitely a crime against society.
“This court is of the considered opinion that the prosecution has successfully proved the guilt of the accused beyond any reasonable doubt. Therefore, the accused is liable to be convicted for the offence punishable under Sections 376 of RPC,” the court said and convicted him, as per the verdict.
Subsequently, the court ordered him to be taken to judicial custody in Central Jail Srinagar and ordered the listing of the case for the quantum of punishment on Wednesday.
