Kashmir 'faith healer' convicted for sexually abusing children for decades
What's the story
Ajaz Sheikh, a local imam and faith healer from Sopore, North Kashmir, has been convicted for sexually abusing hundreds of children over three decades. Using his position as an imam, teacher, and healer, Sheikh targeted minors, some under 10 years. He manipulated parents by claiming he needed their children to counter black magic. One victim testified Sheikh raped him over 500 times in three years leading to severe health issues. The first FIR against Sheikh was filed on March 2, 2016.
Legal battle
Prolonged legal battle leads to conviction of Imam
After the first FIR, a chargesheet was filed against Sheikh in 2017, initiating a long legal battle. The case witnessed several changes in judges and prosecutors over the years. In some cases, the faith healer would ask the minor children to do sexual acts while he watched. During the hearing, the prosecution asserted that he "manipulated minor victims by instilling fear of supernatural harm to coerce them into repeated unnatural sexual acts."
Victim statement
He was hired as a Quran teacher
"He was hired as a Quran teacher; he would choose and take kids with him. He would tell the parents that there is black magic in the family, and he would need the child below 12 years of age to stay with him as he would want them to speak to Djinn's and heal them," a victim said. They said that it was during this time that he would sexually abuse them.
Charges
Sheikh charged under section 377 of RPC
After nine years of trial, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sopore, Mir Wajahat, issued the order of conviction against Sheikh on charges under section 377 (unnatural offenses) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). "The prosecution has established all the ingredients of the offense beyond reasonable doubt, warranting conviction," the court said, adding that the defense failed to raise any substantial doubt that would merit an acquittal.