Jammu, Aug 22: Expressing grave concern over the death of a minor girl in Kishtwar, the Tribal Gujjar Bakkarwal Welfare Foundation on Saturday called for a fair and time-bound investigation and urged child-protection authorities to conduct safety audits and strengthen safeguards in educational institutions, particularly for children from remote and vulnerable communities.
As per a statement issued, the Tribal Gujjar Bakkarwal Welfare Foundation a forum working for the welfare and advancement of the Gujjar-Bakarwal community and for the preservation and promotion of its culture, language and traditions discussed the deeply disturbing reports concerning the alleged sexual exploitation, pregnancy and tragic death of a minor child belonging to the Gujjar community and studying in Class 5.
The members of the Foundation expressed profound shock, anguish and grave concern over the incident and stated that according to information appearing in various media reports, the child was allegedly subjected to sexual assault by her school teacher, Khalid Hussain, over a prolonged period, resulting in pregnancy. It has further been reported that the child was allegedly administered pregnancy-termination medication in circumstances involving Khalid Hussain and his brother, Tariq Hussain, following which the child and the newborn child tragically died. The Foundation emphasised that these are matters requiring a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation, with responsibility being fixed strictly in accordance with law.
The Foundation also expressed serious concern over media reports and allegations that the family of the accused persons is influential and that attempts are allegedly being made through threats, pressure or other influence upon the economically vulnerable nomadic family of the deceased child to hush up the matter. The Foundation demanded that the Police and Civil Administration immediately ensure the safety and security of the victim’s family and material witnesses, and ensure that no person, irrespective of his social or political influence, is permitted to interfere with the investigation, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the course of justice.
The members observed that the allegations are particularly disturbing because one of the persons accused is stated to have been the teacher of the deceased child. A teacher occupies a position of trust, responsibility and authority and is expected to protect and guide children entrusted to his care. Any sexual exploitation of a child by a person occupying such a position of trust constitutes an extremely grave betrayal of that relationship and demands the strictest response permissible under law.
The Foundation also expressed serious concern over media reports and allegations that the family of the accused persons is influential and that attempts are allegedly being made through threats, pressure or other influence upon the economically vulnerable nomadic family of the deceased child to hush up the matter. The Foundation demanded that the Police and Civil Administration immediately ensure the safety and security of the victim’s family and material witnesses, and ensure that no person, irrespective of his social or political influence, is permitted to interfere with the investigation, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the course of justice.
The members observed that the allegations are particularly disturbing because one of the persons accused is stated to have been the teacher of the deceased child. A teacher occupies a position of trust, responsibility and authority and is expected to protect and guide children entrusted to his care. Any sexual exploitation of a child by a person occupying such a position of trust constitutes an extremely grave betrayal of that relationship and demands the strictest response permissible under law.
The Foundation further expressed concern regarding the particular vulnerability of children belonging to nomadic and economically weaker sections of the Gujjar-Bakarwal community. Owing to economic hardship, seasonal migration, geographical isolation, interrupted access to institutional safeguards and dependence upon local educational arrangements, many such children may be particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. The Foundation stressed that the present incident must therefore not be viewed merely as an isolated criminal case, but should also prompt the authorities to examine whether adequate child-protection mechanisms are actually reaching children in remote, migratory and marginalised communities.
Considering that one of the accused is reportedly a teacher and the deceased child was his student, the Foundation called upon the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the concerned Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Police and other competent child-protection authorities to take cognisance of the matter. The Foundation demanded an appropriate and sensitive inquiry to ascertain whether any other child studying in the school may also have been subjected to sexual abuse, harassment or other inappropriate conduct and if during such inquiry any information suggesting abuse of another child comes to light, immediate action should follow in accordance with law.
Taking a wider view of child safety, the Foundation urged the NCPCR, CWCs and the concerned administration to evolve an appropriate mechanism for periodic child-safety audits, awareness programmes and confidential counselling/outreach in schools and other institutions formal as well as informal where children are imparted education, tuition, religious instruction or otherwise remain under the supervision of adults.
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