Rape & murder of a Gujjar woman in Srinagar
Kashmir is shocked as we have witnessed a terrifying incident wherein a nomadic woman from Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe was raped and murdered in the outskirts of Srinagar city in Nishat area. This is the first incident in Kashmir I believe, and as per the media reports the men who committed this crime were all drunk. The locals living in Nishat area especially Gupkar Mohalla are shocked and have been protesting and demanding stern action against the accused. We must applaud the local Police for acting swiftly and taking all the four culprits into custody. Out of four accused three are locals living around Nishat and one is from Sumbal Bandipora area of North Kashmir.
The victim woman aged around 45 years belonged to Gujjar-Bakerwal tribe, and had migrated to Nishat Srinagar along with her family from Rajouri around two weeks back. Some sources say that they hail originally from Reasi district. This Gujjar family along with few other families put up in a secluded area of Nishat under the foothills of Zabarwan mountains near Sharab Kull stream located in the upper part of Gupkar Mohalla Nishat.
Seasonal migration to Nishat
These tribal families have been putting up in this area for last 24 years and they come every year to this area during summer months and go back to their native place after October. During summer months the men from this community work as daily wage labourers around Nishat and adjoining areas and thus earn their livelihood.
The victim on Sunday May 4th 2025 had gone with her goats to the nearby forest area, some 150-200 meters away from her tented accommodation. This was around 5pm and she was confronted by the four men who were under the influence of alcohol. These men as per media reports raped and killed the woman. The accused were identified within hours and have been taken into custody by police.
The victim routinely would go out with her goats to graze them. When her husband and sons returned to the campsite around evening they found that the victim had not come back. On routine the lady (victim) would be back before her husband and sons would come back from work. Her husband and sons found that the lady was not in the tent and they went out to search for her in two to three groups.
Rapists were under influence of alcohol
Her husband went towards the graveyard and saw some movement and when he reached near this site he saw her wife had been tied to a tree with her hands behind, her garments were torn and two men were beating her and hitting her head. The man shouted and asked his sons to come to the site. One of the victims’ sons who came to the site caught hold of one of the suspected men. This was revealed by the husband of the victim to a local media outlet The Kashmiriyat.
“We grabbed him. He was soaked in blood, and we could smell alcohol from far away. He was clearly drunk and we didn’t let him escape. We called for help and rushed to get my mother into a vehicle.” said victim’s son as reported by The Kashmiriyat.
The victim was taken to a Government hospital in the Habak Hazratbal area. The local residents helped the family in carrying the victim to the hospital and she was alive by that time. But when they reached hospital she had died. It is quite unfortunate that in spite of being such a hugely populated area there is not a single Govt hospital around Nishat or Shalimar area. Being a Sunday there were only one or two doctors posted at Habak Hazratbal hospital which is a Govt Primary.
According to Police Station Nishat information was received around 5 PM on May 5th 2025 (Sunday) that some boozed men had attempted to rape a Gujjar woman and have left her critically injured. Acting on this complaint, Police registered FIR No. 35/2025 under relevant sections of BNS and initiated an investigation into the matter. In a swift and decisive operation, all the accused have been apprehended. Further investigation in the case is ongoing” the Police statement said
Public Outrage
There has been a massive outrage not only in the Nishat area against this incident but the entire Kashmir valley is shocked and people are demanding that the sale of alcohol be banned in Kashmir valley especially as people are consuming it in large quantities which is having serious consequences for our society. I have personally been told many times that people turn towards Shalimar, Nishat, Brein upper reaches and carry alcohol with them. The area in Nishat where the tribal families from Rajouri / Reasi area put up is known for such activities but locals feel helpless as authorities are not banning sale of alcohol in Kashmir. More and more wine shops are opening in Kashmir valley especially in Srinagar. The drug addicts and boozers can be seem roaming openly in public places and authorities are not moved at all. This not only violates our societal values but it goes against our religious values as well.
Alcohol Ban & Pvt Members’ Bills
The legislators from Jammu & Kashmir cutting across party lines have moved several Private Members’ Bills in the recently concluded Assembly seeking a ban on sale of alcohol in J&K. Leaders from National Conference, BJP, PDP, Congress, AIP, Apni Party, AAP and independents are on the same page on this but one fails to understand why the Govt isn’t enacting a law to ban alcohol in J&K? PDP MLA Mir Mohammad Fayaz, NC MLA from Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi and AIP MLA from Langate Sheikh Khurshid had submitted private members bills on alcohol ban in J&K.
“Rising alcohol consumption poses a serious societal threat, emphasising the need for strict legislation to counter the trend. The Bill calls for harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violators” reads the Private Members Bill of Mir Fayaz
The BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of J&K Dr Nirmal Singh extended his support to any such legislation aimed at banning alcohol across the Union Territory of J&K.
“I fully support the Bill advocating for a ban on alcohol in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP never supported alcohol consumption and wherever our government was in power, we took strong measures against it,” said Dr Nirmal Singh while speaking to a Jammu based news-portal
Conclusion
If all the political parties in J&K are on the same page with regard to banning alcohol in J&K why isn’t the Govt taking steps in this regard? Is our Govt waiting to see more such incidents to happen? In such circumstances are our daughters and sisters safe? What has happened to the Private Members Bills that were introduced on alcohol ban in J&K? The rape and murder of tribal woman in Nishat should be an eyeopener for our society, especially for our political leaders. This is the time we must ban alcohol in J&K and if there are some technical issues for Govt let the ban be imposed in Kashmir valley at least. If the Governments in Bihar or Gujarat can ban alcohol why not J&. Apart from going against the culture and tradition, it is a constitutional violation as well.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow and Chairman J&K Climate Action Group. He is Founder of Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement.
