SRINAGAR: Raising serious questions on the student-teacher relationship, a 14-year-old girl and Class 4 student in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar, who was allegedly impregnated by a teacher, died while being rushed to hospital for medical intervention to terminate her pregnancy, triggering outrage across the UT and protests in her native Chatroo area.
The school teacher, along with another accused, has been suspended and arrested by police after an FIR was registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The victim, a resident of Chatroo, was a Class 4 student at Government Middle School Bumalpora in Gurinalla area of Chatroo in Kishtwar district, where 102 students are enrolled.
According to officials, the minor, who was impregnated by a school teacher, was referred to District Hospital Kishtwar by her family members for termination of pregnancy. She was referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Doda for specialised treatment and from there she was referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu in critical condition.
The locals said when the ambulance carrying the girl to GMC Jammu reached near Batote area, her condition deteriorated and she died.
Her body was subsequently taken back to District Hospital Kishtwar, where a postmortem examination and DNA samples were taken by a team of doctors.
The incident caused outrage across Jammu and Kashmir, and people in many areas of Kishtwar district staged protests and demanded stern action against the guilty teacher. The girl’s native Chatroo area observed a complete shutdown against the incident.
Acting swiftly, Police Station Chatroo registered FIR No. 34/2026 under Sections 61(2), 65(1), 90, 91 and 92 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Sections 4, 6, 8, 10 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to her pregnancy and death.
According to police, during the postmortem, it was found that the minor was five months pregnant.
As per the FIR, the minor was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assault by the teacher, resulting in her pregnancy.
“Two persons, including the accused teacher Khalid Hussain Sheikh, have been arrested,” a police officer said, adding that further investigation is going on.
The teacher has been suspended by the authorities.
MLA Kishtwar Shagun Parihar termed the incident “heartbreaking and horrific” and urged the authorities to ensure a fair, time-bound investigation and a fast-track trial with the strictest punishment under the BNS and POCSO Act if the accused is found guilty.
“Our daughters are our pride and the future of our society. Every girl deserves to live with dignity, safety and without fear. We must stand united against every form of crime against children,” she said.