Srinagar, Feb 17: Aijaz Sheikh, one of Kashmir’s most notorious child rapists, has finally been convicted under Section 377 of the Ranbir Penal Code. This conviction means Sheikh is now held accountable for his horrific actions over the past three decades, during which he sexually abused thousands of children in north Kashmir.
Section 377 states that anyone who has ‘unnatural sex’ can be punished with imprisonment for life or up to 10 years. The accused may also be fined.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate while delivering the conviction observed that the rest of the survivors, which were legally only registered as witnesses in the present case, have the liberty to file separate FIRs against their abuser.
The case against Sheikh began with the filing of an FIR on March 2, 2016. Charges were brought against him in October 2017, and since then, the trial has been plagued with delays.
The defence lawyers presented their arguments for the first time on January 3, 2025, after years of hearings and the case was reserved for judgment for February 17.
Now, with the conviction, Sheikh faces the full weight of the law for his crimes.
Aijaz Sheikh exploited his various roles as an Imam, school teacher, and faith healer to gain the trust of parents, allowing him access to vulnerable children. His manipulative tactics enabled him to continue his abuse unchecked for decades.
Survivors of Sheikh’s abuse have shared disturbing accounts of their experiences.
One survivor described being raped over 500 times in three years, leading to serious health issues. Other survivors recounted being forced to engage in sexual acts with each other, while Sheikh watched. In some cases, children as young as 10 were subjected to forced oral sex and violent assaults.
“At times I felt that this legal battle was more traumatising than the abuse itself. The repeated delays were deeply frustrating, but today’s conviction proves that perseverance matters. Silence only empowers abusers, and justice, no matter how delayed, is worth fighting for,” said one survivor.
Over the course of the prolonged trial, the case saw the replacement of approximately five to six judges and three to four public prosecutors (PPs), further contributing to the delays and complications in the legal proceedings.
The legal battle, though prolonged, has now reached its critical conclusion, and the community hopes this conviction will help prevent future abuse of vulnerable children. More details will be added.—(FPK)
