Kashmir erupted in rage when a 45-year-old Bakerwal woman was allegedly ‘gang-raped and murdered’ by drunken men in Srinagar. Yet, unlike the nationwide candlelight marches for Delhi’s Nirbhaya, her death sparked no candle marches or stand-ups of mass condemnation.
The brutal gang rape and murder of any woman, anywhere, is not just a crime, but the systemic failure, but the apathy towards heinous crimes against marginalised women is deeply troubling.
A concerned, and conscious civil society member, while questioning this response of anger as a civilised reaction, seeks introspection on the absence of mass condemnation—no candle marches, no stand-ups at Press Enclave.
Even the media coverage exposes our diabolic sensitivities on tragic events: a disturbing hierarchy of victimhood where tribal lives are rendered invisible. The echoes of her suffering from the mountains must not fade into oblivion. Justice must roar, not whisper.
Isn’t a believer duty-bound to condemn crime/sin?
The Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever amongst you sees an evil action, then let him change it with his hand [by taking action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he cannot, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith.”
Law must take its course, but it is important to call it what it is, ‘a crime that shames humanity’.
The information we have on the victim—a middle-aged nomadic Bakerwal woman from Reasi—reveals that she had migrated to Srinagar with her cattle for the summer. She was found brutally assaulted, her clothes soaked in blood, and later declared dead at a hospital, bearing witness to the horror of inhumanity.
The crime was committed by men reportedly under the influence of alcohol, reigniting debates on Kashmir’s growing alcohol crisis amid a tourism boom. While locals and trade union leaders demanded a ban on liquor, none addressed the deeper issue—why do crimes against marginalised women evoke such muted responses?
The silence speaks volumes on selective outrage: Whose pain matters?
When violence is perpetrated against the affluent class, national outrage erupts. Politicians, celebrities, and international figures demand justice. But when a tribal woman is raped and murdered, the silence is deafening. No prime-time debates, no candlelight vigils, no hashtags. The Bakerwal community, already marginalised, is left to mourn alone.
Media obsesses over crimes in urban centers but ignores atrocities against tribal women unless they fit a political narrative.
While local MLAs condemned the alleged Nishat rape, no major national leader—neither from the ruling party nor the opposition—uttered a word. Compare this to the swift condemnations after high-profile crimes. Tribal lives, it seems, don’t warrant political capital.
Alcohol, lust, and murder—what connects these crimes?
Alcoholism is a catalyst for violence.
The accused were reportedly drunk, exposing a deeper crisis—Kashmir’s unchecked alcohol culture. Despite public outrage over tourists drinking near Dal Lake, the government continues to auction liquor licenses, prioritising revenue over safety.
Kashmir’s identity is being sacrificed for tourism dollars. Locals demand respect for their culture, yet alcohol flows freely in tourist hubs like Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
Religious leaders, civil society activists, concerned citizens, and even some tourists argue that alcohol fuels violence.
The Bakerwal woman’s family demands the death penalty.
The 2023 Srinagar acid attack case saw a rare speedy trial—proof that justice can be delivered swiftly when there’s political will.
Some demand the rapists be hanged in Lal Chowk—a knee-jerk, hyper-adrenaline rush and reaction; a theoretically symbolic act (retribution) to deter future crimes. Extreme? Perhaps. Allow the law to take its course. But when the system fails, concerns about delays in seeking justice incite disheartenment. Seeking a fast court trial becomes a duty.
The alleged Nishat rape-murder case is a litmus test for our conscience. Will we continue to ignore tribal suffering, or will her death finally shatter the silence?
The police deserve immense praise for nabbing the accused in record time. They must further ensure a transparent trial and not allow cover-ups or delays.
If peace and Kashmir’s culture are to be synchronised or preserved, start by curbing the liquor that fuels such crimes.
The media must stop treating tribal pain as a footnote and amplify even marginalised voices.
Justice cannot be selective. If it does not roar for the voiceless, it is not justice at all.
Once proven guilty, punish the rapists exemplarily. Break the silence.
