9 years after a boy broke his silence, ‘faith healer’ who sexually abused minors for years in Kashmir convicted

The first case came to light in March 2016, when the 14-year-old boy refused to visit the convict despite his family insisting on it. It was only when the family tried to persuade him that he opened up. Once a case was filed, several other children came forward to narrate the sexual abuse by the convict. By then, many victims had grown up and were in their late teens or early 20s.

The convict, now 54, would reportedly promise his disciples good fortunes, relief from financial problems, or a cure for medical ailments. He would tell them to bring their children so they could talk to the djinns (supernatural powers) at his home on the outskirts of Sopore. He would reportedly silence his victims by telling them that if they spoke to anyone, they would be chased by djinns and their families would be destroyed.

At least 12 families have approached the court, though authorities estimate the number of victims would be higher.

Convicting the accused of child abuse, Baramulla CJM Wajahat said on Monday: “In light of the compelling, reliable… evidence presented by the prosecution, this court holds that the accused is guilty of committing unnatural offences punishable under Section 377 RPC, affecting the body, mind and soul of (two prosecution witnesses).”

“The prosecution has established all ingredients of the offence beyond reasonable doubt… The defence has failed to create any substantial doubt that would merit an acquittal,” the order read. “The accused is convicted under Section 377 RPC for committing unnatural offences… The established legal principles governing sexual offences leave no room for doubt regarding the accused’s guilt,” the court said.

It said that while the other protected minor victims “courageously recounted harrowing accounts of their suffering”, this judgment “refrains from extensive elaboration or deliberation, solely to uphold the sanctity of the impending investigation, which must proceed after the registration of separate FIRs.”