A 14-year-old tribal schoolgirl has died in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district after a government school teacher sexually exploited her and tried unsuccessfully to terminate her pregnancy. There has been anger and protests in the region, and residents want a thorough investigation and strict action against everyone in question.
The girl was a resident of the remote Chhatroo area of Kishtwar and had been sexually assaulted repeatedly over many months, the prosecutor said. The issue began to come to light about two weeks ago when she began to suffer severe stomach pain, and the medical examination showed she was about seven months pregnant.
The case has raised serious concerns over the alleged attempts to suppress the incident and the circumstances in which the minor was taken for medical treatment. Community members have alleged that the accused initially attempted to prevent the matter from reaching the authorities by offering financial assistance and allegedly threatening the family.
The victim’s family, who had to live in a remote area with little access to communication and were fearful of social stigma, did not immediately approach the police.
Girl dies after medical procedure
The situation turned tragic when the accused teacher and his brother allegedly arrived at the girl’s home and persuaded her family to take her to a medical clinic for an abortion. The girl was then taken outside the district by her father and uncle for delivery, and a medical procedure was carried out.
The teenager delivered a stillborn baby during the procedure. Her health deteriorated rapidly.
The girl was being transported towards a hospital in Jammu when she died late Thursday night somewhere near Udhampur. Her death and the stillborn baby became the subject of widespread anger when the bodies were brought back to her native village.
Protests erupt in Kishtwar
In some regions of Kishtwar, protests and shutdowns erupted. Residents were demanding accountability, a thorough investigation into the girl’s pregnancy and death, and action against all those who were involved.
Protesters also demanded an inquiry into the medical facilities where the procedure was carried out, to see if legal and medical safeguards for a minor were followed.
That was particularly frustrating to local communities because the victim was a minor, but she had remained in danger for months before the matter was discovered, police sources said.
Teacher and brother arrested
Kishtwar Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh confirmed that the accused government teacher, Khalid Hussain Sheikh, and his brother were taken into custody.
Sheikh is a Grade II teacher at Government Middle School Bumalpora. After the allegations, the education authorities have also suspended him pending a departmental inquiry.
Police have registered a case under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges reportedly include sexual assault of a minor, criminal conspiracy, and causing the death of an unborn child.
Investigators are now examining the entire sequence of events, including the alleged sexual exploitation, the delay in reporting the pregnancy, the medical procedure, and the teenager’s subsequent death.
The authorities are also expected to determine the identity and role of any other individuals who may have been involved in arranging or carrying out the procedure.
The incident has revived calls for stronger protection mechanisms for children, particularly in remote and vulnerable communities. It has also raised questions about access to healthcare, awareness of child-protection laws, and the need for victims of sexual abuse to receive immediate medical, legal, and psychological support.
As the investigation continues, authorities are under pressure to establish a complete picture of the situation and to determine responsibility based on the evidence and due legal process.
