Amid unrelenting street protests in the Kashmir Valley, especially by students, against the rape of a three-year-old, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday took suo moto cognisance of the case. Chief Justice Gitta Mittal directed the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, “to submit a status report on Friday”. The authorities in Sopore, Anantnag, Ganderbal, Bandipora and Srinagar districts have closed most of the government colleges to contain the protests. A medical report has confirmed the sexual assault of the child, who lived in the neighbourhood of the accused. “The accused has been booked under rape charges and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,” a police official said.

Source: The Hindu May 15, 2019 08:34 UTC