KL Report
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Government Thursday approached State High Court to challenge the acquittal of rape accused ‘faith healer’ from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Gulzar Ahmad Bhat alias Gulzar Peer. Peer was acquitted by Principal Sessions Court Budgam of rape charges on February 12.
Police sources informed CNS that after getting a nod from the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to file an acquittal appeal against the local court’s judgment passed by the Principal Sessions Judge Budgam in case titled State through SHO P/S Khansahib, FIR No. 40/2013 u/s 376, 109 RPC v/s Gulzar Ahmad Bhat and others, Deputy Advocate General N H Shah Thursday filed an appeal against the acquittal in High Court Srinagar.
In its appeal before the High Court, the State Government has submitted that the judgment of Principal and District Sessions Judge Budgam is based on wrong assumption of facts and is far from justice. “The judgment of the Principal and District Sessions Judge is erroneous and based on the wrong assumption of facts,” the appeal filed by State Government reads.
Police sources informed that they are in possession of solid evidences against Gulzar Peer and on the basis of these evidences, government decided to challenge the acquittal judgment of the local court. “The government has already directed Qazi Abdul Qayoom, Chief Prosecuting Officer Budgam to provide all necessary assistance and certified copies of the judgment to the deputy Advocate General N.H.Shah who will plead case for the State Government,” they said.
Pertinently, the self-styled faith healer Gulzar Bhat alais Gulzar Peer of Latur Chadoora, who used to run a seminary at Shamsabad Budgam was arrested for allegedly raping minor girls on the pretext of “purifying their soul” in May 2013. The complainants had alleged that Gulzar Peer raped at least 40 girls in his so called ‘Hujra-e-Khaas’ at his Shamsabad Seminary.
