A near total shutdown was observed in Kashmir on Monday for summary trial of the person involved in the alleged rape of a 3-year-old girl in Sumbal area of North Kashmir.

The May 8 case has rocked the Valley and demonstrations are being held every day against the heinous crime.

On the shutdown call given by Itehadul Muslimeen, shops remained closed and no traffic was seen on the roads as widespread anger was witnessed among the people. Processions were taken out across the Valley demanding action against the accused who is already in police custody. Clashes were reported from some places where police lobbed teargas shells to quell protests.

Security forces were deployed in strength to maintain peace.
The three-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and later raped by a local man at Trehgam in Sumbal.

Governor Satya Pal Malik expressed deep shock over the incident on Monday and took a detailed review of the ongoing investigations into the case. He directed IGP SP Pani to work swiftly in the case and ensure the culprit got exemplary punishment.

A Raj Bhavan spokesperson said the Governor had also talked to religious leaders of different communities and asked them to unanimously deplore this gruesome incident and make appeal to the people to remain calm and not let antisocial elements disturb peace and harmony.

The police have constituted an SIT to investigate the case.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, has appealed to the people to maintain peace, brotherhood and law and order.

He has assured that the inquiry into the Sumbal incident was being conducted on a fast track basis and he was personally monitored it. Khan promised justice and severe punishment as per law for the culprit.

Condemning the incidents, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tweeted: “Deeply disturbed by the shocking heinous crime committed on a 3-year-old child in Sumbal. Such repeated incidents raise a serious question mark on how much of our moral and religious values have been imbibed within us and are reflected in our collective behaviour as a society.”

In a statement, CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said: “The gruesome incident is a slap on the social fabric of Kashmir. There should be no room for those who shield the criminals under the one garb or the other. We hope that governor administration will probe the incident on a fast track basis and punish the culprit on fast track trial.  It is a shocking incident and calls for strictest possible punishment to the perpetrator.”