Four youths were arrested on Monday for allegedly gang-raping and murdering a 45-year-old tribal woman in the Nishat area on the outskirts of Srinagar.
An FIR under the relevant sections of law was registered at the Nishat police station.
“Four accused persons involved in the commission of the crime have been arrested. Further investigation is on,” the police said.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar has remanded the accused to six days of police custody as investigations continue.
The woman was part of the nomadic Bakerwal community and had migrated to the area from Reasi district a week earlier, along with other community members and their cattle.
Community members said the woman had left her tent around 5 p.m. to graze cattle nearby, but when she didn’t return, they began searching for her.
“During the search, we found a few men near the wounded woman. One youth was beating her while the others had fled. The person was caught and handed over to the police,” they added.
They further stated that the woman was initially taken to a nearby hospital for a medical check-up, but no doctors were available. She was then shifted to a hospital in Srinagar, where doctors declared her dead.
Political parties and civil society groups have condemned the incident and sought strict action against the accused.
Markets in Brein and Nishat remained shut on Monday as locals protested the incident.
The Gujjar-Bakerwal Students Alliance in Kishtwar held a candlelight march, and the University of Jammu GBSA staged a protest against the culprits involved in the Nishat Srinagar incident, demanding justice for the Gujjar-Bakerwal woman.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti condemned the incident, stating she was “deeply shocked and heartbroken by the alleged rape and tragic death of a tribal woman in Nishat.”
She noted that reports suggest the victim “suffered brutal injuries and succumbed en route to the hospital,” and confirmed that the police had arrested the accused, who were “reportedly intoxicated during the crime.”
Mufti added, “Substance abuse, particularly alcohol and drugs, is devastating our youth and fueling horrific crimes like rape and murder,” calling the incident “a reflection of a broader societal crisis.”
“A tragic incident has shaken our conscience — a tribal woman was brutally sexually assaulted in the Nishat area of Srinagar, and she later succumbed. This horrifying act demands immediate and unwavering justice. I strongly urge the authorities to ensure a swift and transparent trial of the culprits, without delay or leniency,” said PDP MLA Rafiq Ahmed Naik.
Senior National Conference leader and MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar said the “barbaric act” against a “vulnerable soul” is an assault on humanity itself.
“I commend the police for arresting the four involved, but justice demands swift and severe punishment to deter such atrocities. We must protect our women and marginalized communities, ensuring their safety and dignity. I urge the administration to expedite the investigation and trial, leaving no stone unturned. As a community, let us unite against violence and foster a culture of respect and security for all. May the victim’s soul find peace, and may we work tirelessly to prevent such tragedies,” he said.
Peoples Conference chairman and MLA Sajjad Gani Lone said a barbaric crime has taken place against a tribal woman and the culprits deserve stringent punishment and a fast-track trial.
J&K Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said the tragic incident in Nishat, where a nomadic woman was brutally assaulted and murdered by a group of intoxicated individuals, is “horrifying and deeply shameful.”
“Those involved in this heinous crime must be brought to justice,” he said.
Religious leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), condemned the assault.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reacted strongly to the incident, stating, “This shocking incident should shake us deeply.” He said it reflects the “moral depravity being increasingly witnessed in our society,” driven by “exposure to obscenity on the net, the scourge of alcohol and drug addiction, corruption and greed, and loss of a moral sense among sections of people.”
Azhar Khanabadosh, the chief patron of the Tribal Students Association Kashmir, announced that they would hold a demonstration demanding a judicial inquiry and a transparent post-mortem, stressing that the criminals should be strictly punished under the law.
