The brutal murder of a 30-year-old woman from Soibugh, Budgam sent shock waves across humanity. The level of brutality has never been seen before in Kashmir. A girl was apparently raped after 40-year-old man Shabir Ahmad Wani kidnapped her and later cut into pieces and buried these pieces at different locations far from each other.
The chilling details by the police reveal that the forty-year-old man who lives some seven kilometers away from the victims’ residence has crossed all the levels of cruelty.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Budgam Al-Tahir Geelani Arifa Shafi was reported missing and her brother Tanveer Ahmad Khan submitted a written complaint on March 8 at Police Choki Soibugh stating that her sister had gone to attend her computer classes and had not returned home.
He said a missing report was registered and police started investigations during which police used technical evidence and support and questioned several persons. Geelani said whatever clues they had gathered they rounded up several suspected persons for questioning.
He said one Shabir Ahmad Wani, a resident of Ompora Mohand pora was among those who were also questioned on the technical evidence and on a clue that he may be involved in this crime.
The SSP said during his sustained questioning and interrogation on a complete day he did not divulge anything. He said last night Wani admitted that he had murdered Arifa Shafi. Police raided his residence to locate the body where they found it was chopped in pieces and the head of the victim in the lawn.
The body neck to toe was recovered near Safdan Bridge in the area while the limbs and arms were recovered from a water tank near the house, he added.
On the disclosure of Wani, police were also able to recover the weapon of offence, a knife. The medical legal formalities of the deceased were conducted and the body was handed over to legal heirs of the victim for conducting last rites.
He said the investigation is at the very early stage and could not be shared with the media, which seems not feasible at present. He said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report has also been sent for examination and it will take some time to reveal the final report.
Meanwhile, the residents of the village were totally aghast this brutal murder and demanded the accused to be handed over to them for exemplary punishment.
“These brutal men have no right to live among us. We urge police to hand him to us and we want to award him public punishment,” said Rafiqa, a next-door neighbour of the victim. Thousands of people in the area took to the streets and demanded capital punishment for the accused.
“Our laws are quite weak to protect our daughters. Police will now produce challan against the accused. In the court of law, it will take many years to pronounce judgment and after a few years he will be out of jail,” said Mohammad Shafi, a protester.
Shafi demanded strict laws with fast-track proceedings in such cases to ensure justice prevail and women feel safe in our society.
“This was the most brutal murder. But if we look around normally our girls are being harassed everywhere. This is prevalent everywhere and in most of the cases women hide their ordeals and prefer not to register complaints against the accused to avoid social stigma,” said Shafi.
The police, however, seem to be acting tough on women related crimes. In Srinagar Dalgate last week two youths were arrested after a girl lodged a complaint on social media accusing them of harassment.
SDPO Nehru Park Mansha Baig later shared helpline numbers on social media and other platforms urging women to come forward and register complaints against the miscreants.
“We team responded immediately to the complaint lodged by a woman on social media regarding harassment by two boys. We arrested them and also seized the scooty they were riding on during the offence,” she said.
Baig said that she is appealing all the women facing harassment to contact them and their team will quickly offer them all possible support. The ART, Srinagar also cancelled the registration of the scooty sued by the boys and warned all those miscreants never to think of committing such offences.
“We warn all those who are outside public places especially schools, colleges and universities harassing girls. If we find anyone strict action will be taken,” the district administration issued the press note.
