4 culprits arrested by police, protests across the region

PT Report

Gilgit, August 4: Justice Nawaz Abbasi of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit – Baltistan has taken suo-moto notice of the alleged gang-rape of a girl in Skardu, Baltistan. Four culprits, including the main accused , have been arrested by the police. The victim has also been taken into protective custody.

According to details a government employee, identified as Macha Hassan, deceived a poor girl from a far-flung village, named Lashithang, and took her to Skardu, where she was handed over to some “influential” people, who allegedly gang-raped the poor girl for more than five days. When her condition deteriorated she was handed over to her brother who had also come to Skardu along with her wife. Apparently, the entire family of the girl had been deceived by the main accused.

The girl has, reportedly, said that she can identify 8 of the people who subjected her to the shameful act of rape and torture.

Days after the incident, the threat for life of the girl increased manifolds because the culprits were threatening her family with dire consequences if they opened their mouths.

However, news of the ugly incident spread like a wild-fire in the region and people of the village demanded government protection for the girl. They also demanded of the government to nab and punish the culprits.

When the news of this incident got published in the regional press the Supreme Appellate Court sprang into action and took Suo-Moto notice, forcing the police into action.

According to reports at least 4 culprits have been arrested so far, while raids are being conducted to nab the rest.

In the meanwhile, people across the region have staged protest demonstrations against the crime, demanding justice for victim of the heinous crime, which has shocked the entire Gilgit – Baltistan.

It is pertinent to note that violence against women is a sad reality in Gilgit – Baltistan, where majority of the cases of rape go unreported, while tens of girls are killed in the name of honour.

It is time for the civil society and intelligentsia to raise their voice against all forms of violence against women in the region.

After the Suo-Moto action taken by Justice Nawaz Abbasi, it is being hoped that the culprits will be given exemplary punishment for the crime against humanity.