2 min readJammuAug 27, 2026 05:20 AM IST
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has given the Jammu and Kashmir administration five days to submit a report on the alleged sexual assault of a tribal teenager by her headmaster in J&K’s Kishtwar district, leading to a fatal pregnancy.
In its notice to the administration on August 25, the commission said it was invoking its powers under Article 338A of the Indian Constitution and asked the J&K chief secretary, the director general of police and the SSP of Kishtwar to respond within that period.
The notice came after a complaint from Kabir Ahmed, member trustee of the Tribal Gujjar Bakerwal Welfare Foundation, Dhanyote. The minor had allegedly been abused by the headmaster for several months, leading to her death on August 20 after a failed abortion attempt last week. The death led to protests across the district.
The headmaster and his brother — both of whom are said to have accompanied the teenager for the failed abortion attempt — have been arrested. The education department has initiated an enquiry and suspended the headmaster.
In its notice, the scheduled tribes commission said the police had failed to invoke the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act even though the teenager was a tribal. The commission has also asked authorities to verify the status of the girl and the headmaster, provide protection to the family, consider compensation for them, and preserve evidence.
The case emerged after the girl complained of stomach pain and was allegedly taken to the local health centre, which confirmed her pregnancy. She was eventually taken to local medical facilities, where a fatal abortion attempt allegedly weakened her. Labour was allegedly induced, leading to a stillbirth.
The girl died on her way to a hospital near Udhampur.