Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has issued formal notices to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, seeking a detailed response within five days over the alleged non-invocation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in a case involving the death of a minor Gujjar Scheduled Tribe girl in Chatroo, Kishtwar district.
The notice, issued under file number NCST/ATY-4600/JK/3/2026-RU-IV on Tuesday, came after the Tribal Gujjar Bakkarwal Welfare Foundation approached the Commission through its Member Trustee, Kabir Ahmed, raising concerns over the handling of the case. The Commission has invoked its powers under Article 338A of the Constitution to formally investigate the matter and has warned that if the requested reply is not received within the stipulated period, it may exercise the powers of a civil court and summon the concerned officials for personal appearance.
The case stems from an FIR registered at Police Station Chatroo against two accused, in which serious allegations have been raised concerning the repeated sexual assault of the minor, her subsequent pregnancy, a reported attempt to terminate it, and her eventual death. The complaint filed before the Commission has also sought investigation into allegations of threats and monetary inducement against the family, a purported community-level effort to suppress the matter, possible non-reporting by persons with prior knowledge of the crime, and the conduct of anyone who may have facilitated, concealed or attempted to compromise the case.
Central to the Foundation’s complaint is the contention that despite the victim belonging to a Scheduled Tribe community, the relevant provisions of the SC/ST Act have reportedly not been applied in the case so far. The complaint has asked the Commission to verify the tribal status of the victim and the social background of the accused, examine whether the Act’s provisions are applicable, ensure protection for the family and witnesses, secure the preservation of digital and medical evidence, and facilitate legally admissible compensation and rehabilitation support for the family.
The Foundation described the Commission’s swift intervention as a significant step toward institutional accountability, saying the development has strengthened the family’s hope that the matter will receive the scrutiny it deserves. It said its underlying objective is to ensure that no statutory safeguard goes unenforced and that no responsible individual escapes scrutiny, while affirming it does not seek to interfere with the ongoing police investigation.
The organisation said it would continue monitoring proceedings before the Commission as well as the criminal investigation, and would keep pressing for the protection, dignity and rehabilitation of the victim’s family as the case moves forward.
