A fourteen-year-old schoolgirl from Kishwar (Jammu and Kashmir state) died following an alleged attempt at a forced abortion. This incident sparked protests on Friday, leading to the arrest of a teacher and his brother on charges of sexual assault and other violations.
Authorities suspended teacher Khalid Hussain after his arrest under POCSO and other sections in Chhatru, where he works at a government secondary school in the Bamalpora area. A police officer stated that 'Khalid allegedly engaged in physical relations with the girl, a student at his school. Her post-mortem examination showed she was approximately five months pregnant.'
Khalid's brother, Tariq, was detained for assisting in the illegal abortion attempt on Thursday. A police official reported: 'Initially, Khalid, with the help of his brother, attempted to perform an illegal abortion using certain medications in Chhatru, but this led to the deterioration of the girl's condition. She was taken to the Kishwar district hospital, from where she was referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for specialized treatment.'
The girl's condition worsened during transport by ambulance to Jammu, located over 200 km from the scene, and she passed away late on Thursday near Batote in Dode.
The body was returned to the Kishwar hospital, where a post-mortem examination was conducted. Police confirmed the autopsy results, establishing the fact of pregnancy and the forced abortion attempt. 'The body has been handed over to the relatives after all legal procedures have been completed. An investigation is underway to determine if other people were involved in the illegal act. The girl's relatives, possible medical staff, and the pharmacy owner who supplied the abortion drugs without adhering to proper procedures are under close scrutiny,' a police officer stated.
The teenager's death caused widespread outrage. A public ban was declared in Chhatru, and protests spread to other areas of Kishwar, demanding action against those responsible for the cruel treatment of the girl and her death. Members of the women's wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP’s Mahila Morcha Kishwar) met with officials in Kishwar to demand 'the strictest possible measures' and justice. Several hours after this meeting, the teacher was suspended from work.