Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti Saturday strongly condemned the rape and murder of a girl in Wanpora area of district Pulwama.Calling for immediate and stern action against the perpetrator, she in a statement sought a fool-proof legal framework to address the growing incidents of violence against women and girls in Jammu and Kashmir.Expressing anguish and pain over the recurrent incidents of violence like rape, murder, sexual assaults and acid attacks against women and girls in the State, Mehbooba said, “Violence against women is not a women’s issue, it's a human rights issue and such incidents should be dealt with through a comprehensive legislative framework so that not only justice is ensured for the victims but a legal mechanism is put in place to prevent recurrence of such reprehensible acts.”
Maintaining that justice system is key to addressing the menace of violence against the women, she said, “If PDP gets the mandate to form the next government it would bring in such laws so that every girl and woman can live safely, feel protected and grow up free of violence in J&K.”Urging the authorities to expedite investigation into all cases of crimes against women in the State, the PDP president suggested setting up fast-track courts to ensure speedy delivery of justice and exemplary punishment for those who do such terrible things with our sisters and daughters.
Mehbooba expressed heartfelt sympathies with the families of the latest victims of violence against women including the girl who was raped and murdered in Wanpora area of Pulwama and another girl in Srinagar who was targeted with acid attack recently.