J&K: 16 rape cases, 64 incidents of molestation reported amid COVID-19 lockdown

Amid Coronavirus lockdown, 16 rape cases and 64 incidents of molestations were reported from Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a suo-moto tice of negative impact of lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 pandemic on women, a Coram consisting of J&K High Court Chief Justice Geeta Mittal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal h recently issued tices to J&K government and asked it to submit a report with regard to steps taken regarding domestic or any or kind of violence that women are being subjected to.

A report submitted by  government in court revealed that 16 cases of rape, 64 cases of molestation, and one case of eve-teasing have been reported in J&K during  lockdown period. It furr said that as many as 1,314 calls have been received from affected persons on emergency number 181 from March 24 to April 24, out of which 65 were related to violence against women. “ remaining 956 calls were reported by migrant laborers, who were in distress on account of lockdown,” it said.

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Special fund for violence victims

Each district of J&K has been sanctioned Rs 10 lakh out of SDRF fund for COVID-19 containment, for victims of domestic violence and also for providing temporary accommodation, food, clothing, medical care, etc, report stated. ditionally, Department of Disaster Manment, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR) has issued directions to all Deputy Commissioners for designating 10 beds in each District Quarantine Centre exclusively for victims of domestic violence in Union Territory, officer said.

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Court directs action

High Court directed government to consider tifying appropriate s so that women have easy access to m.  court also directed Department of Social Welfare and members of State Legal Services Authority to examine requirements and steps necessary to mitigate complaints and difficulties of victims of elderly abuse, child violence, violence against disabled and transs in UTs of J&K as well as Lakh.

Pertinently former chairperson of J&K women’s commission, Vasundhra Phatak Masoodi, h said that she was getting a lot of distress calls from women across  valley complaining about domestic violence amid lockdown.

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