SRINAGAR: Four days after convicting him, a fast-track court here on Wednesday sentenced a resident of Bihar to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed Rs 20000 in connection with kidnapping and raping of a 15-year-old girl in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar in 2016.

 Renu Dogra Gupta, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court pertaining to rape cases) also sentenced  convict, Santosh Kumar Paswan S/o Saider Paswan R/o Lalpora Bhim Nagar Bihar in the case FIR No.32 of 2016 of Police Station Kralkhud Srinagar for the commission of the offences punishable under Section 363 RPC (kidnapping). The court ordered that both these sentences shall run concurrently, as per GNS. It also ordered that the period undergone shall be set off from the total sentence imposed on Paswan. The court had convicted Paswan four days ago.

Prosecution was represented in the case by APP Farooq Malik.
The police had filed the charge-sheet against Paswan regarding kidnapping and rape of the minor girl (name withheld) in 2016. 

According to prosecution, on 1 September 2016 a complainant was lodged with the police of Police Station Kralkhud to the effect by girl’s father that in his house a person namely Santosh Kumar Paswan was doing mason work and after completing his work at his home, he often used to visit his house.

The complainant said his daughter (name with-held) was missing from her house and that he is having strong doubt that she has been enticed. During the course of search, the girl and kidnapper were found riding on a motorcycle near Humhama and going in suspicious condition towards Airport, the prosecution said. 

Subsequently, the prosecution said, they were apprehended and brought to Police post Humhama. The motorcycle, Air Tickets of accused and prosecutrix from Srinagar to Delhi were seized, the prosecution said.

The medical examination of the prosecutrix (girl) was conducted by a doctor who has reported that in the womb of the prosecutrix a fetus of about 10 weeks and 6 days is present.

Actually, the prosecution said, the accused used to go to her home and after taking benefit of minority and immaturity of the victim, the kidnapper had established illegal terms with the girl. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A fast-track court here on Saturday held a resident of Bihar guilty of kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar in 2015.

 “This court is of the considered opinion that prosecution has beyond any reasonable doubt succeeded in establishing its case fully, by way of reliable and clinching evidence and the documents placed on record have been fully proved and exhibited during trial, on the basis of which, no conclusion other than guilt of the accused stands established, as such accused is liable to be convicted for the offence punishable under Sections 363 and 376 of RPC,” said Renu Dogra Gupta, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court pertaining to rape cases).  

“This court accordingly convict the accused namely Santosh Kumar Paswan S/o Saider Paswan R/o Lalpora Bhim Nagar Bihar in the case FIR No.32 of 2016 of Police Station Kralkhud Srinagar for the commission of the offences punishable under Sections 363 and 376 of RPC,” the court said as per judgement, a copy of which lies with GNS. The court is likely to announce quantum of punishment next week.  AAP Farooq Ahmad Malik represented prosecution before the court.  

The police had filed the charge-sheet against Paswan regarding kidnapping and rape of the minor girl (name withheld) in 2016.  

According to prosecution, on 1 September 2016 a complainant was lodged with the police of Police Station Kralkhud to the effect by girl’s father that in his house a person namely Santosh Kumar Paswan was doing mason work and after completing his work at his home, he often used to visit his house.

The complainant said his daughter (name with-held) was missing from her house and that he is having strong doubt that she has been enticed. During the course of search, the girl and kidnapper were found riding on a motorcycle near Humhama and going in suspicious condition towards Airport, the prosecution said.  Subsequently, the prosecution said, they were apprehended and brought to Police post Humhama. The motorcycle, Air Tickets of accused and prosecutrix from Srinagar to Delhi were seized, the prosecution said.

The medical examination of the prosecutrix (girl) was conducted by a doctor who has reported that in the womb of the prosecutrix a fetus of about 10 weeks and 6 days is present.

Actually, the prosecution said, the accused used to go to her home and after taking benefit of minority and immaturity of the victim, the kidnapper had established illegal terms with the girl. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Four members of a family including a couple and their minor kids died after a vehicle they were travelling in met with an accident in Kishtwar district on Thursday.

Officials told GNS that a swift car ( JK17-2460) on way from Kishtwar toward Bhandarkote met an accident near Bhandarkote,  resulting in the on spot death of three people identified as Yasir Ahmed Butt (37) Son of Abdul Gani Butt, his wife Shazada Begum (36), their child Artash Yasir (8). One more of their kid, Ailaf Yasir (5), scummed to injuries in hospital while another child Aarish Yasir (3) has been injured and under treatment  District Hospital Kishtwar.

Confirming it, a police official told GNS that a case has been registered in this regard. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: At least three people sustained critical injuries after lightning struck the Shahdara Shareef area in Rajouri district Wednesday afternoon.

An official said that three individuals, namely Ghulam Ahmad (48), Naureen Akhtar (42), and Rozia Akhtar (2), suffered critical injuries in the incident.

All three were transferred to PHC Thanamandi and subsequently referred to GMC Rajouri for specialized treatment. (KS)

SRINAGAR: A nine-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday evening.

Officials said that a leopard attacked Rabiya Nisar (9) near her residence in the Samsan area of Khansahib.

“The minor girl was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival,” they said.

SRINAGAR: Observing “when a woman is ravished, what is inflicted is not merely physical injury but the deep sense of some deathless shame”, Additional Sessions Court Handwara on Wednesday convicted an accused in a sexual assault case on a minor and sentenced him to ten years imprisonment besides levying on him a fine in tune of rupees fifty thousand.

As per an order by Additional Sessions Judge, Handwara, Umi Kulsoom, a copy of which lies with GNS, the Learned Counsel for convict, Advocate Abdul Majeed, stated that the accused is a young boy of 26 years and is a poor person belonging to a humble background and family, the antecedents of the convict are clear as the convict is not a previous convict nor any criminal case is pending against him.

“The Ld. A.P.P, Tahseem Bashir Balti, stated that given THE facts and circumstances of the case, the convict be awarded maximum punishment.”

“Security of persons and property of the people is an essential function of the State which could be achieved through instrumentality of criminal law. Protection of society and stamping out criminal proclivity must be the object of law which must be achieved by imposing appropriate sentences'. Therefore, in operating the sentencing system, law should adopt the corrective machinery or the deterrence based on factual matrix. The facts and given circumstances in each case, the nature of the crime, the manner in which it was planned and committed, the motive for commission of the crime, the conduct of the accused, the nature of weapons used and all other attending circumstances are relevant facts which would enter into the area of consideration. Undue sympathy to impose inadequate sentences' would do more harm to the justice system to undermine the public confidence in the efficacy of law and society could not long endure under such serious threats. It is, therefore, the duty of every Court to award proper sentences' having regard to the nature of the offence and the manner in which it was executed or committed etc”, observed the Court.

“Where a rape is committed on a child below sixteen years of age, the normal sentence which can be awarded is not less than 10 years rigorous imprisonment. The court in exceptional circumstances considering the "special and adequate reasons" may sentence the convict for a period less than 10 years rigorous imprisonment.”

“The victim/prosecutrix was 13 years 4 months and 11 days of age at the time of commission of offence as per the School record. The Prosecutrix/Victim was a helpless child. The convict, who at the time of occurrence was the age of 18 years 3 months and 4 days, shattered the dignity of prosecutrix; she has to bear the burden of the act committed by the convict throughout her life. The physical scar may have healed up, but the mental/emotional scar will always remain. When a woman is ravished, what is inflicted is not merely physical injury but the deep sense of some deathless shame. Child sexual abuse is a serious and heinous offence against the society and humanity. To show mercy in child sexual abuse case would be a travesty of justice. The socioeconomic status of the convict in child sexual abuse case is not a relevant consideration in awarding punishment. The convict shattered the basic human right of the victim to live with honour and dignity. Judicial response to human rights cannot be blunted by legal jugglery. No special and adequate circumstances exist which may warrant the awarding of sentence less than ten years rigorous imprisonment to the convict,” the order observed. 

While pronouncing the quantum of punishment, the Court said that, “After considering the totality of facts, the convict is sentenced to ten (10) years rigorous imprisonment along with fine of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) and in default of payment of fine, he shall go further six months for simple imprisonment and to pay a compensation of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) to the victim and in default whereof to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of six (6) months. Period already undergone by the convict during trial shall be set off against the sentence awarded. Necessary warrant be drawn up and convict be committed to District Jail Kupwara." (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A minor girl was killed and four other persons injured in Donipora Sangam area of  Bijbehara in South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday evening. 

Reports reaching to GNS said that an accident took place between a Thar bearing registration number JK05L-8889 and a truck bearing registration number JK22-9011 resulting in injuries to on board five persons. The injured persons  immediately evacuated to SDH Bijbehara for treatment where among them a minor declared dead by the doctors. The deceased has been identified as Adiba Jaan (5) daughter of Mohammad Aqib a resident of Razya Kadal srinagar and the injured persons identified as Aqib Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Shaban a resident of Raziya Kadal Srinagar, Aamir son of Mohammad Ashraf Bhat a resident of Baba Kadal Srinagar, Asmat Jaan wife of Aqib Ahmad a resident of Raziya Kadal and Afeen Jan daughter of Aqib Ahmad a resident of Raziya Kadal. 

Meanwhile, a case has been registered in this regard for further investigation. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: In shocking news, a minor girl who was missing in Rajouri district was found dead today morning, officials said.

An official told news agency Kashmir Scroll that a 3-year-old minor girl went missing yesterday; however, after hectic efforts by police, SDRF and locals recovered her body from a nallah.

A police officer told news agency Kashmir Scroll that the body has been taken to the hospital.

He said that after completing the medical and legal formalities, the body will be handed over to the family for last rights. (KS)

SRINAGAR: Police on Wednesday arrested an accused who allegedly raped a minor girl in Srinagar.

The accused have been identified as Irshad Ahmad a resident of Hamdaniya Colony.

A case under relevant sections of law has been registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) ACT in Police station Bemina.

"One Irshad Ahmad Langoo S/o Bashir Ahmed Langoo R/o Hamdaniya Colony arrested for raping a minor girl. FIR No. 97/2023 u/s 376 of IPC, sections 5(N), 6 of POCSO Act registered in Bemina PS," police said on X. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: A 3-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack in Rajwar area of Handwara in north Kashmir's Kupwara district this morning. 

Reports reaching GNS said that one Burhan Ahmad, son of Mohammad Kamal Mir of Marchwali Nichhama was pounced upon by a leopard outside his home this morning. 

The beast dragged the minor to some distance and upon chased by the family and villagers, left the boy with critical injuries. 

The boy was evacuated to a nearby health facility at Behnipora, where he succumbed shortly after. 

With several such incidents reported from the area in the recent past, the locals have demanded from the authorities to take necessary measures to avoid any such incident in the future. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: A six year old girl lost her life in a road accident in Nowshera area of Rajouri district on Thursday. A police official told news wire Kashmir Scroll that a six-year old girl identified as Mahi Harsh died after slipping from a school bus in Nowshera, Rajouri district.

He said that her head hit the road and she was taken to hospital where she died. The deceased was UKG student and bus driver has fled from the spot,he said.

Meanwhile police have taken cognizance of the incident. (KS)

SRINAGAR: A minor boy died after being allegedly hit by a tractor in Karnah area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district this morning.

Reports reaching GNS said a minor boy was fatally hit by a tractor bearing registration number JK09C 0019.

The boy identified as one Nooran Shah (around 11 years of age), son of Khadam Hussain, a resident of Chamkote Karnah, died on the spot. 

A police official confirming the incident told GNS that a team is on the spot to collect the necessary details. (GNS)