Death of Jammu teen raped by headmaster: Notice after police fail to invoke SC/ST Act

Death of Jammu teen raped by headmaster: Notice after police fail to invoke SC/ST Act The minor had allegedly been sexually abused by the headmaster for a number of months, leading to her death on August 20 after a failed abortion attempt.

Key points

• The notice came after a complaint from Kabir Ahmed, member trustee of the Tribal Gujjar Bakerwal Welfare Foundation, Dhanyote.
• The case emerged after the girl complained of stomach pain and was allegedly taken to the local health centre.
• The headmaster and his brother – both of whom are remarked to have accompanied the teenager for the failed abortion attempt – have been arrested.
• The commission has additionally asked authorities to verify the status of the girl and the headmaster, provide protection to the family, consider compensation for them, and preserve evidence.

In practice, the headmaster and his brother – both of whom are remarked to have accompanied the teenager for the failed abortion attempt – have been arrested. (File photo).

For context, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has given the Jammu and Kashmir administration five days to submit a report on the alleged sexual assault of a tribal teenager by her headmaster in J&K's Kishtwar district, leading to a fatal pregnancy.

In its notice to the administration on August 25, the commission remarked it was invoking its powers under Article 338A of the Indian Constitution and asked the J&K chief secretary, the director general of police and the SSP of Kishtwar to respond within that period.

For context, the notice came after a complaint from Kabir Ahmed, member trustee of the Tribal Gujjar Bakerwal Welfare Foundation, Dhanyote. The minor had allegedly been abused by the headmaster for a number of months, leading to her death on August 20 after a failed abortion attempt last week. The death led to protests throughout the district.

In its notice, the scheduled tribes commission remarked the police had failed to invoke the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act even though the teenager was a tribal. The commission has additionally asked authorities to verify the status of the girl and the headmaster, provide protection to the family, consider compensation for them, and preserve evidence.

For context, the case emerged after the girl complained of stomach pain and was allegedly taken to the local health centre. It confirmed her pregnancy. She was eventually taken to local medical facilities, where a fatal abortion attempt allegedly weakened her. Labour was allegedly induced, leading to a stillbirth. The girl died on her way to a hospital near Udhampur. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd.

In short, death of Jammu teen raped by headmaster: Notice after police fail to is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.