Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: Principal Sessions Judge Baramulla Sanjeev Gupta has rejected the bail application of an accused, who was involved in child trafficking.
“It cannot be denied at a moment that period of custody is a relevant factor but simultaneously the totality of circumstances and heinousness of the offence are also to be weighed”, the court observed, adding “the accused namely Zuha Farooq resident of Dalgate Srinagar was arrested by the Police Station Pattan for abetting co-accused and other unknown persons to commit rape of victim”.
As per the facts of the case, the victim who is a minor aged 15 and a half years, was kidnapped by another accused namely Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh alias Parvaiz from Pattan who took her in his auto to Dalgate Srinagar and confined her at a house where she was raped by some persons.
Thereafter victim on next day was handed over to the prime accused Zuha Farooq who took her to Jammu in a vehicle driven by one namely Sameer. After reaching Jammu, victim was forced by the Zuha to establish sexual relations with many persons at different hotels for a month after confining her in a house.
However, the police arrested three more accused namely Vickey Kumar and Lucky Dogra from Jammu who had raped the victim at Jammu and Tanveer Ahmad Shiekh alias Parvaiz who had raped the victim at Srinagar.
Principal Sessions Judge Baramulla, who has powers of special judge under Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, has taken a strong note of perfunctory investigation conducted by the police in the case and observed, “sex trafficking of a minor is worst type of crime. The victim may suffer for long lasting physical and psychological trauma besides a societal interest is always there”.
Accordingly, the court directed the Inspector General of Police Kashmir to conduct in depth investigation in the matter through a team of highly professional police officers in a time bound manner. The Judge has also passed direction for providing compensation to the minor victim under Victim Compensation Scheme 2019.
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