Two arrested for alleged rape of woman in J&K’s Baramulla district

Srinagar, July 28 (IANS) Police said on Tuesday that two men were arrested for the alleged rape of a woman in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

According to the woman’s complaint, she, along with a male friend, had gone for an outing to Jalsheeri Drangbal in Baramulla on July 25 when the two accused accosted them.

A police official said the accused sexually assaulted the girl and also recorded a video of the assault. The officer said the survivor knew the accused only by their first names.

However, using technical evidence and human intelligence, police identified the suspects as Shakir Ahmed Lone and Mohammed Ashraf, both residents of Jalsheeri and working as drivers and arrested them on Monday.

Recorded crimes against women in Jammu and Kashmir have shown a steady decrease over recent years, with official data indicating a fourth consecutive annual decline. Government reports submitted to Parliament show that total registered cases dropped to 3,366 in 2024, down from a peak of 3,937 cases in 2021.

Types of Offences against women include domestic violence, which forms a significant portion of reported grievances, with higher absolute counts traditionally logged in urban districts like Jammu and Srinagar.

Abduction and Kidnapping, Frequently constitutes a major category among registered IPC crimes against women, often involving cases tied to forced or disputed marriages.

Cyber Crimes against women, including digital harassment, morphing of profiles, and online stalking, have emerged as growing areas of concern and reporting for young women and professionals.

Safety and Support Systems for women include the setting up of women Police Stations. Exclusive police stations staffed by female officers operate in major districts—including Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Jammu, Rajouri, and Udhampur—to handle domestic and social violence cases.

Special Cells for Women: Specialised support units backed by partnerships with the National Commission for Women provide psycho-social and legal aid to survivors directly through the police framework.

–IANS

sq/uk