Jammu, May 07: The axiom society going to dogs seems a perfect fit for the state of Jammu and Kashmir where apart from terrorism and intolerance the cases of girls’ safety is becoming a big cause of concern with every passing day.
The state which boasted of peaceful environs once upon a time has suddenly been afflicted with almost all the evils that can plague a society.
In Kashmir it is becoming more prevalent with people becoming insensitive and utilizing the turmoil to the hilt to misuse whatever position they have and the rate with which the sexual attacks on girls particularly small kids are going on it is a clear writing on the wall that all is not well with the society.
In a latest shocking case of sexual exploitation by a paedophile librarian in Baramulla, dozens of minor girls between the age group of nine to sixteen were molested for months. What is more shocking is that the head of the institution knew it all but took no action.
With this latest incident one is reminded of numerous such incidents in the recent past which sends shivers down the spine of the common citizen that someone somewhere must pull the plug to this insanity plaguing our society.
A cursory search about such incidents takes you to more than a dozen news items regarding molestation and sexual attacks by the known people on minor girls in Kashmir.
The most shocking incidents have happened all over Kashmir and in many parts in Jammu with some cases getting reported while others going unreported for the fear of social stigma.
The question here is why the protectors are suddenly turning into predators for these innocent kids who cannot differentiate between good and bad people.
The law of the land also seems not playing a deterrent in such cases as it takes years to decide these cases and by then the family of the victim gets harassed to the extent that instead of getting justice they get a social stigma which even hampers the growth of the child.
The law is very clear in such cases but it is the implementation that remains ineffective thus discouraging people from reporting such incidents which in turn prove as a morale booster for the anti-social elements who have no fear of the law.
The social organizations have a bigger responsibility in such cases as they can not only motivate the family to pursue the cases against such pedophiles but also counsel the child to remove the fear and hurt that grips such children after the incidents.
The society that is fast changing towards the wrong direction needs some enthusiastic social activists, able administrators and sensitive police officials to come forward and stop this crime before the state goes into the abyss of such sexual insanity.
The punishment in such cases should be among the rare of the rarest to instill and sense of fear among the anti-social elements who indulge in such unfortunate and shameful acts which brings condemnation from one and all.
Jammu and Kashmir which is already facing the onslaught of terror cannot afford another form of terror for its children by such insane people and we need to rise to the occasion and nip this evil in the bud before it takes an alarming proportion where one has to witness our society literally going to dogs.