Self styled 'Peer' Gulzar Bhat arrested for 'raping' 4 minors in Budgam

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) : Police has arrested a person in Budgam district for allegedly raping four minor girls who were studying in his institute.Giving details, a police spokesman said, “Police Budgam received a joint complaint by four minor girls, who were studying in an institute, claiming to preach religious teachings and headed by Gulzar Ahmed Bhat, son Ghulam Qadir Bhat, resident of Latter Chadur (Shamasabad) Khansahib. In the complaint they alleged that they have been repeatedly sexually exploited during their stay in the institute.”

The spokesman added that a case FIR No: 40/2013 u/s 376 RPC stands registered in police station Khan Sahib and the investigations are going in full swing. “The statements of the victims have been recorded before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Budgam which corroborates the complaint. The victims have also been medically examined. The victims belong from different districts of the valley. The investigation reveals that the above said institute is running from last several years; the boarding and lodging is being provided to the students by the head of the institute.”

Police Budgam is gathering further evidence into the matter and some more revelations are expected. The accused has been arrested.

Meanwhile a local news agency CNS adds : Police has arrested self-styled preacher Gulzar Ahmed Bhat aka Syed Gulzar from his Nendwanpora residence on Tuesday.

As per the statement Gulzar Bhat allegedly used to lure girls and woman and later on with the help of some others assaulted them sexually.

Gulzar had established an institute on the pretext of providing religious teaching at Nendwanpora area of Budgam with lodging and boarding facilities especially for girl students. Hundreds of girls are lodged in the institute.

A noted cleric of International Khatam-e-Nabuwat Molvi Mohammad Amin told CNS that scores of girl approached the organization. “We were shocked after girls made startling revelations. One of the victims claimed that Gulzar has turned that centre into a sex-cabin.,” he said.

Sources said that Gulzar Ahmed Bhat had divorced his wife in 1993. “He is an illiterate person but with the help of some unknown persons he abruptly established a well organized centre in Budgam and motivated people especially the parents of poor and helpless girls to get their girls admitted in their centre,” one of the locals told CNS.

The wrong doings of Gulzar came to light after his photographs surfaced on social networking site Facebook a few days ago in which he can be seen surrounded by women with a cigarette in his hand. His followers at that time had claimed that the woman holding “Peer” by her hand was his relative.

Deputy Inspector General Central Kashmir Afhadul Mujtaba told CNS that more arrests are expected in this regard. “We have not arrested a Molvi but an impostor who used to exploit girls sexually. So far only four girls have come forward against him and we have started the investigation,” Mujtaba said.

Superintendent of Police, Budgam, Uttam Chand said stern action will be taken against the guilty for exploiting poor and helpless girls. SHO Khansahab, Ghulam Jeelani said that Gulzar as per the statements recorded before the court seems to be rapist. “We have arrested him and investigation is on,” he said.