Kashmir 'preacher' arrested for sexual exploiting four minors

A self-styled "religious preacher" was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district for repeated sexual exploitation of four minor girls at an institute he ran, police said Tuesday.

"Police in Badgam district received a joint complaint by four minor girls who were reading in an institute claiming religious preaching headed by Gulzar Ahmed Bhat, son of Ghulam Qadir Bhat, resident of Latter Chadur (Shamasabad) Khan Sahib. The minor girls claimed they ad been repeatedly sexually exploited during their stay in the institute," a police statement said here.

It said Bhat was arrested, a case of rape was registered in police station Khan Sahib and the investigations are on.

"The statements of the victims have been recorded before the chief judicial magistrate, Badgam which corroborate the complaint. The victims have also been medically examined," said the statement, adding the victims belong to different districts of the Valley.

It said the institute was running for last several years, and used to provide boarding and lodging to its students.

"Police are gathering further evidence in the matter and some more revelations are expected," said the statement.