Gilgit: School children, women and men demand justice for eight year old child killed last week

With reporting by Farman Karim Baig

Gilgit, November 13: Thousands of women, men and school children have been protesting in Gilgit since the morning today, demanding swift action against the murderers of an eight year old child who was sexually abused and later killed by three teenagers.

The protesters started their demonstration from the Hunza Chowk (aka. Ittehad Chowk), and marched toward the Chief Court building in Konodar, across the river where the eight year old boy (H) was stabbed and killed.

The protesters are demanding fair trial and ruthless punishment for the three teenagers. They area demanding of the government to ensure justice and not budging to any political or other pressure.

The brutal murder of “H” has enraged the whole region and yeterday legislators had also demanded action against the culprits.

It is pertinent to note that the murder of “H” is not the first case of sexual abuse, followed by murder. Earlier, a child name “I” hailing from Kashrote area had also been abused and killed, allegedly by a deranged man. Still earlier, a student of the AKHSS from Yasin Valley was sexually harassed and chased, forcing him to jump in the Gilgit river from which his dead body was later recovered.

Incidents of sexual abuse are believed to be rampant in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, but it is generally considered to be a taboo and people do not speak against such crimes, for the fear of being stigmatized in the society.

“The fact that thousands of people, including women and children, have come out to condemn the brutal and heinous act is a proof that the people have had enough”, a female protester who didn’t want to be identified told Pamir Times. “We seek justice for the child and we want a free and secure future for all the male and female children of Gilgit-Baltistan”, she added.