Kashmir is marred with issues. Drug abuse, crimes of heinous nature, never heard of are on the rise. What’s even more concerning is the societal silence surrounding these problems. A concerning trend is evident among Kashmir’s youth, who often disregard the severity of these crimes, choosing instead to reside in a state of denial and uncertainty, despite the growing frequency of their occurrence, now reaching a weekly occurrence.
The latest victim of this growing criminal tendency is a 40-year-old woman from Handwara area in north Kashmir, a mother to four children who was brutally murdered by her own husband.
On the night of February 28th, the chilling act of violence took place in Mamer, Handwara when the woman fell victim to a brutal attack leading to her death, by her own husband.
The perpetrator, wielding an axe, ended the life of his wife in their own home, sending shockwaves among the local residents.
Locals gathered outside the hospital at Handwara, seeking justice, told The Kashmiriyat that they demand a stringent punishment to the culprit. Chants of “we want justice” echoed in the cold air as the gravity of the situation began to sink in.
The victim, identified as late Rafiqa Jan, at the age of 40, left behind a family including three young boys and a girl.
According to the family of the victim, on the night of the crime, Rafiqa called her mother in the evening asking about markets and prices, with no indication of the horror that would unfold later.
“The children, eyewitnesses to the whole incident, have narrated the story to the family of the woman,” said a relative of Rafiqa.
He said, “After a normal dinner family dinner, the children went to sleep. Later, the screams of her mother woke the daughter up and she rushed to the room where she saw her father attacking Rafiqa (her mother) with an axe”
The children upon spotting their father Mohammed Maqbool Mir, the accused, hitting the throat of their mother with an axe shouted and cried for help.
“Blood was oozing off her throat and Rafiqa screamed for help, but the accused after hitting her throat with an axe, hit her nape with the same object,” the protesting relative said.
“The children panicked and started to scream but were threatened into silence and subsequently locked in a room by their father,” said another relative.
The Sarpanch, acting as bearer of the news, notified the family of the deceased about the tragic loss at 2 am. “The husband, after perpetrating the crime, surrendered himself to the authorities,” he said.
A relative disclosed an incident from the night saying, “The victim had observed her husband sharpening an axe and inquired if he intended to use it on her, teasingly, to which the husband affirmed her with a confirmation.”
The culprit’s background reveals that he was employed outside of their village, raising questions about potential stressors or motives behind this act.
The relatives said that the husband returned from work only the day before committing the crime.
The Police has lodged an FIR at Handwara Police station under the relevant sections of law and given assurances to the family of the 40-year-old woman that justice will be served in the case.
“Today, Police Station Qalamabad received information that one person, namely Mohd Maqbool Mir, son of Ali Mohd Mir, resident of Chak Audoora, has murdered his wife,” reads a Police statement, adding, consequently, FIR No. 05/2024 under section 302 IPC was registered at PS Qalamabad.
“The accused has been arrested in the instant case and the weapon of offense has also been seized,” Police said.
“The investigation of the case is in progress and will be conducted in a thorough, professional manner.”
“The investigation is currently underway, and the Handwara Police assures the public that it will be conducted with the utmost professionalism and diligence to ensure justice prevails. Further updates on the case will be shared as the investigation progresses,” the statement reads.
Amidst the anguish, despair and promises of justice, a question lingers: “What will these kids do now?” voiced by a grieving relative.