A wave of shock and profound anger has gripped the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir following the suspicious death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl in the Chhatroo area of Kishtwar district. Grave allegations have surfaced stating that a government school teacher sexually exploited the minor for months and conspired to force an abortion, which ultimately led to the tragic death of the child when her health deteriorated. The incident triggered immediate outrage among local residents and the grieving family, leading to widespread protests demanding justice. Amid growing questions regarding the initial police response, the investigation has now been officially transferred to the Crime Branch, while a previously formed Special Investigation Team continues to gather vital scientific evidence. Authorities have arrested six individuals so far, including the prime accused teacher, his brother, and a staff nurse from the district hospital. Stringent charges under the POCSO Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the SC/ST Act have been slapped against the accused as intense demonstrations persist across the Chenab Valley.
Unraveling the teacher's brutality and the abortion conspiracy
The Chhatroo police station received information regarding the suspicious death of the minor girl on August 20. Initially, no written complaint was filed, leading police to launch a preliminary inquiry under the assumption of a routine death. However, as the investigation progressed, medical and forensic evidence pointed toward a major crime, prompting police to promptly register a formal FIR. Subsequent inquiries revealed that government school teacher Mohammad Ishak had been exploiting the student for a prolonged period. When the victim became pregnant, the teacher, along with his brother Riaz Ahmed Sheikh, hatched a sinister plot to terminate the pregnancy. They administered illegal pills in an attempt to induce an abortion, which caused the girl's condition to worsen drastically and ultimately cost her her life.
Role of district hospital staff and other accomplices
The heinous crime was not executed in isolation, as the primary accused also received assistance from within the healthcare system. A staff nurse at the Kishtwar district hospital and a daily-wage sanitation worker actively aided the perpetrators in carrying out the illegal abortion. Police have detained both hospital workers alongside other suspects for rigorous interrogation. Senior officials stated that hospital records, medical protocols, and related logs are being thoroughly scrutinized. Anyone found complicit in this criminal conspiracy will face strict legal action, according to authorities.
Public protests and transfer of the case to the Crime Branch
Public anger has boiled over onto the streets across Kishtwar and the surrounding Chenab Valley, with residents staging massive demonstrations demanding an impartial inquiry and severe punishment for all culprits. Meanwhile, political figures have also weighed in, with former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressing deep anguish over the incident and urging Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to hand over the case to the Crime Branch for a time-bound and fair probe. In response to mounting public pressure and the extreme sensitivity of the matter, the administration transferred the case to the Crime Branch. The Crime Branch and the SIT are now working in tandem to expose every layer of this criminal network.
