Islamabad (Anantnag), May 18: A 3-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her neighbor in Chatergul village of this South Kashmir district on Tuesday evening.
 The incident triggered massive protests in the area on Wednesday as people attacked the house of the accused and set it ablaze. Police has registered a case and started investigations.
 “The girl was playing in the compound of her house when the youth, Muhammad Arif Bhat son of Muhammad Yaqoob Bhat spotted her. He offered her sweets and took her to a nearby under construction house, where he raped her,” family members and villagers alleged. They said the youth then left her near the house.
 “As she returned; she was shivering and in shock. So, we got worried and took her to the nearby Primary Health Centre where from she was referred to the Sub-district hospital, Shangus,” they said,
 They added that as the doctors were examining her, she started bleeding profusely. So, late in the night, she was referred to the district hospital, Islamabad and later to the Maternity and Children hospital, where the doctors ‘confirmed’ that she had been sexually assaulted.
 Maternity and Children hospital, Islamabad, Medical Superintendent, Dr. Fazil Kochak said, “ Though apparently it seemed that the girl was sexually assaulted, but the final report is expected to come on Wednesday and only then we can confirm whether the girl was raped or not”.
 SSP, Ramesh Kumar Jalla while confirming the complaint, said, “Yes we have received a complaint that a 3-year-old minor has been raped by a youth. We have detained the accused and registered a case against him while investigations are on”.
 In charge, Station House Officer, Achabal Police station, Manav Jeet Singh said, “Though Prima facie report says that the girl has been raped, but the final opinion has been reserved as the medical report is still awaited”.
 He said the accused had been arrested and a case FIR no 63/2011 under section 376 and 342 RPC of Police station Achabal had been registered against him.
 About the age of the accused, SHO said though apparently he looks like 16 years old as he a 9th class student, but we are still ascertain his age.
 However, locals and police sources say that the accused was a school dropout and was 21-year-old.
 Meanwhile, as the news spread in the village, hundreds of people gathered in Chatergul and demanded stern punishment to the accused. They later attacked the house of the accused and set it ablaze. Later, the fire service was pressed into service who doused the flames and prevented it from spreading further.
 The villagers also rushed to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and demanded punishment to the accused.
 The Deputy Commissioner, Kifayat Rizwi said I was shocked to see the condition of victim. “The medical report is awaited and we will ensure that the accused is awarded strict punishment.” 

Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 IST