A court in Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday rejected the bail plea of a man accused of raping a 70-year-old tourist from Maharashtra during her stay at a hotel in Pahalgam.
Principal Sessions Judge Tahir Khurshid Raina called for introspection on the decay of moral values in the Valley, observing,
“No sooner the sheet-anchors, conscious keepers, watch dogs, and philanthropists of this society will rise to the occasion to check what is going wrong on the moral front of the society, the better will be for saving the Kashmir as the paradise on earth in its true sense.”
Calling the victim a “revered guest” in the “land of saints and seers,” the court lamented that she was treated so “shabbily and shockingly” that she would live with remorse for having chosen Kashmir as her holiday destination.
“The alleged incident is highly unfortunate, condemnable by all possible words, and ought to have jolted the conscience of this society — which claims its moorings to be based on rich ethical values and culture — but now stands shaken to the hilt.”
The court said the case was not an isolated act, but rather a chilling symptom of the broader moral collapse in the region.
“It is not an isolated act to be ignored, but a reflection of a highest degree of depravity and sick mentality prevailing in the society-which must bow its head down in shame and invites a serious introspection as to what it stood for, and how that has now collapsed.”
The alleged incident occurred at Hotel Chinar Inn, Pahalgam, where the elderly victim was staying with her son’s family. According to the police investigation, the accused unlawfully entered her hotel room when she was alone, gagged her mouth with a blanket, raped her, inflicted injuries and fled through the window. The assault was so violent that the victim, a senior widow, remained bedridden and in severe pain for several days.
A first information report (FIR) was registered under Sections 64 and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Pahalgam Police Station. The accused filed for bail through his counsel Advocate Suhail Beg, alleging false implication and bias on part of the police due to personal enmity. He also argued that no test identification parade (TIP) had been conducted and that he was cooperating with the investigation.
In his order, Judge Raina wrote a poetic and poignant introduction referencing Kashmir’s legendary hospitality, juxtaposing it with the gravity of the crime. He remarked that while Kashmir is known for its cultural richness and warmth, this incident “glaringly stigmatizes” that legacy.
The judge noted that the investigation is still underway, but added that the case diary, medical opinion, forensic reports and the victim’s statement prima facie support the allegations of rape in an “exceptionally brutal manner.”
While dismissing the accused’s claims, the court emphasised that crimes of such severity demand serious judicial scrutiny and cannot be lightly brushed aside.
The judge expressed concern over the eroding moral compass of society.
“Mere meadows, mountains, lush green fields, forests, springs, rivers, rivulets and gardens will not come to the rescue of Kashmir as a desired tourist destination. The better it would be if the sheet-anchors, conscience keepers, watchdogs, and philanthropists of this society rise to the occasion to check what is going wrong on the moral front.” Bar and Bench
