The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A fast-track court in Srinagar on Wednesday handed down an eight-year rigorous imprisonment term and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on a resident of Bihar in connection with the kidnapping and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar back in 2016.

Renu Dogra Gupta, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge overseeing cases of sexual assault, pronounced the sentence for the convict, Santosh Kumar Paswan, son of Saider Paswan, hailing from Lalpora Bhim Nagar in Bihar. The judgment was delivered four days after Paswan's conviction.

The court found Paswan guilty under Section 363 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) pertaining to kidnapping. It ruled that both sentences would run concurrently and ordered that the time already served by Paswan would be deducted from the total sentence.

Prosecution in the case was represented by APP Farooq Ahmad Malik.

Paswan was charged by the police for the abduction and sexual assault of the minor girl (identity withheld) in 2016.

According to the prosecution, on September 1, 2016, the girl's father filed a complaint at Kralkhud Police Station, alleging that Paswan, who was working as a mason at their house, had frequently visited their residence.

The complainant stated that his daughter had gone missing from their home and suspected that she had been lured away. During the subsequent search, the girl and the kidnapper were intercepted while riding a motorcycle near Humhama, heading suspiciously towards the airport, the prosecution detailed.

Following their apprehension, the police seized the motorcycle and air tickets from Srinagar to Delhi belonging to the accused and the victim, the prosecution added.

Medical examination of the victim revealed the presence of a fetus approximately 10 weeks and 6 days old, indicating pregnancy.

The prosecution further revealed that the accused had exploited the minor's vulnerability and immaturity by establishing illegal relations with her after frequent visits to her home.

SRINAGAR — A fast-track court in Srinagar has found a resident of Bihar guilty of kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl in the Habba Kadal area of Srinagar nearly eight years ago.

Renu Dogra Gupta, the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge presiding over rape cases in the fast-track court, delivered the verdict on Saturday. The court ruled that the prosecution had convincingly established its case with substantial evidence, leaving no room for doubt regarding the guilt of the accused.

The convicted individual, identified as Santosh Kumar Paswan, son of Saider Paswan and resident of Lalpora Bhim Nagar, Bihar, was found guilty of offenses punishable under Sections 363 and 376 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). The court's judgment stated that Paswan is liable to be convicted for these offenses.

The quantum of punishment for Paswan is expected to be announced by the court next week.

The case against Paswan was filed by the police following allegations of kidnapping and rape of the minor girl, whose identity has been withheld, in 2016.

According to the prosecution, the girl's father filed a complaint with the Kralkhud Police Station on September 1, 2016, stating that Santosh Kumar Paswan, who had been working as a mason at their residence, had frequently visited their house. The complainant reported that his daughter had gone missing, leading him to suspect that she had been lured away.

During the search operation, the girl and the kidnapper were intercepted while riding a motorcycle near Humhama, heading towards the airport in suspicious circumstances. They were subsequently apprehended and brought to the Police post at Humhama, where the accused's motorcycle and air tickets from Srinagar to Delhi were seized.

Medical examination of the victim revealed the presence of a fetus of approximately 10 weeks and 6 days in her womb, indicating sexual assault.

The prosecution asserted that Paswan took advantage of the girl's minority and immaturity, establishing illegal relations with her during his visits to her home.

SRINAGAR — A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday raided a residential house in the summer capital Srinagar, official sources said.

They told the news agency KDC that the residential house of a person namely Uzair Ahmad, son of Farooq Ahmad of Karfali Mohalla Habbakadal, is being searched by a team of the national probing agency.

"The search is being carried out in connection with a case already registered at the police station of NIA," they said, adding that further details will be shared later.

SRINAGAR — At least seven residential houses were damaged in twin fire incidents in Srinagar district on Friday evening, an official said here.

An official told news agency KNS that fire emanated from one of the residential houses in Gadood Bagh area of Habba Kadal and later engulfed the nearby houses.

He said in the incident, six houses were partially damaged even as the fire was put off by fire tenders after hectic efforts. He added a firefighter was also injured while dousing off the flames.

In an another fire incident, one residential house was also damaged in Bemina area on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Srinagar Police advised citizens to keep basic fire safety equipments handy as several fire indents have been rported in the city.

“There are many incidents of fire being reported in Srinagar distt daily. Citizens are advised to keep basic fire safety equipments handy & also to only use authentic heating appliances. Legal action will be taken as per law against shopkeepers selling fake & duplicate equipments,” Srinagar Police tweeted.

SRINAGAR — Inhabitants of the Nai Sadak area of Habba Kadal here on Monday staged a protest against the PHE Department for failing to provide adequate water supply to them during the ongoing holy month of Ramadan.

Scores of women from the locality blocked the main road, causing traffic jam in the area.

“For the last one month, we are not getting an adequate water supply. We have been given assurances multiple times by the authorities, but nothing has been done in this regard,” the protesting women told news agency Kashmir News Trust.

They demanded that Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar and top officials of the concerned department look into the matter and redress their genuine demand at the earliest.