INDIA: Youths Protest Violence Against Women in J&K

Srinagar: In the backdrop of a recent acid attack on a school teacher, a group of youths on Thursday staged a demonstration demanding speedy justice in cases of violence against women.

A school teacher suffered severe burn injuries last week when she was attacked by a youth with acid while returning from a tuition centre in uptown Srinagar. Although the youth was immediately arrested by police, the incident had sparked widespread condemnation and anger among the locals.

Dozens of young men and women assembled at Press Enclave in the heart of the city under the banner of NGO 'Human Rights Law Network' and held a peaceful demonstration to condemn violence against women in the state.

"The recent acid attack on a young school teacher shows the breakdown of our society. We are here to mobilise our society so that such incidents do not occur again," said Advocate Altaf Mehraj, one of the protesters.

They were carrying placards which read "Crime against women must stop", "Teach your sons not to harass rather than teaching your daughters how to dress" and "call for change".

A woman protester demanded punishment of the "uniformed personnel" involved in gang rapes over the years.

"The rape victims of Kunan Poshpora, Warpora-Sopore and Shopian have been denied justice as the cases are still pending in courts. Justice delayed means justice denied," she said and demanded early action against those involved in these heinous crimes.

"We are here to convey our message that criminal elements will not be tolerated and there is no place for such people in our society," Mehraj said.

He added that setting up of fast track courts to deal with crimes against women is a welcome step but the need of the hour is to set up such courts in every district of the state at the earliest.