Shabir Khan
After nearly a decade-long legal battle marred by delays, Aijaz Sheikh, a former Imam, school teacher, and faith healer who sexually abused thousands of young boys in north Kashmir, has finally been convicted under Section 377 of the Ranbir Penal Code.
Delivering the verdict, the Chief Judicial Magistrate noted, “The survivors, who have been registered as witnesses in this case, have the liberty to file separate FIRs against the accused.”
Section 377 prescribes life imprisonment or a term up to 10 years for acts of “unnatural sex,” along with a fine.
The case began with an FIR on March 2, 2016, and charges were filed in October 2017. However, the trial saw frequent disruptions with multiple judges and public prosecutors being replaced. The defence, lead by Advocate Zahid Khalil Mirza, presented their arguments only on January 3, 2025, leading to the final judgment on February 17, 2025.
Sheikh exploited his positions of trust to target vulnerable children, leaving behind a trail of shattered lives.
Survivors described horrific abuse, including being raped hundreds of times, forced into sexual acts with each other, and subjected to violent assaults.
“One of the hardest parts was enduring the legal battle, which often felt more painful than the abuse itself. But today’s conviction proves that perseverance matters,” said one survivor.
This landmark conviction is seen as a long-overdue step towards justice, bringing hope that such crimes will not go unpunished in the future.