Tabinda Gani Case: 5 yrs on, family awaits justice

Handwara, Jan 25 : For the more than five years, the family of 14-year-old Tabinda Gani, who was allegedly raped and murdered here, is awaiting justice: punishment to the culprits.

Tabinda, then a student of 8th class, was found dead in an orchard in Langate area in July 2007 after her abduction. Medical reports had confirmed that the abductors had raped her before slitting her throat.

Tabinda’s father, Abdul Gani Shah, has lost all hopes to see the killers of her daughter punished. “We are made to roam from pillar to post for justice,” he says, as he breaks into tears while recounting the horrific incident.

 Moved by the recent gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi, which triggered rage across India, Shah says the perpetrators of such gruesome crimes must be severely punished.

“The Delhi incident reminded me of my daughter Tabinda. The only difference in the two cases was that the girl in Delhi was left alive while my daughter was brutally murdered after being raped,” he said.

 Shah minces no words in regretting the ‘dual policy’ of the Government of India in handling such cases and the protests thereof. “Lakhs of people who protested in Delhi were controlled by police without any use of force. But when the youth from held Kashmir protested against my daughter’s rape and murder, cases were lodged against them and they were charge-sheeted. This is sheer discrimination,” Shah said.

 Tabinda’s brother, Muhammad Iqbal, said the then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad came forward after the incident and promised speedy trail and justice in the case.  The government had then announced establishing a fast-track court for the case for speedy justice. “But as on date, justice seems to be a distant dream,” he said.

“The trial in the case is going on at a snail’s pace. If the Government is thinking that such cases can be forgotten, it is living in fool’s paradise.”

Tabinda’s body was found on July 20, 2007. She was then a student of 8th standard at Uqab English Medium Public School at Langate.

Following the incident, held Kashmir witnessed massive street protests with people demanding punishment to the culprits. Police later arrested four accused including two non-locals and residents of Langate and filed a challan against them. The accused confessed to the crime. But the family is awaiting justice as on date.

 Pertinently, the occupied Jammu and Kashmir government had instituted a bravery award for children in the girl's name.

 “We want the rapists to be hanged,” said Shah, asserting that “Justice must be delivered in all cases of rapes, without any leniency whatsoever.”

“Lakhs of people who protested in Delhi were controlled by police without any use of force. But when the youth from Kashmir protested against my daughter’s rape and murder, cases were lodged against them and they were charge-sheeted. This is sheer discrimination.”


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