The Brutal Murder of a Child in Budgam Is Not Just a Crime — It Is a Wake-Up Call About Moral Collapse, Social Silence, and the Growing Fear for Our Children’s Safety
Where Are We Heading as a Society?
Dr. Fiaz Fazili
This is totally heartbreaking. We failed — not merely as individuals, but as a society that once prided itself on compassion, dignity, spirituality, and collective responsibility.
The horrific desecration and murder of an innocent young girl in Budgam is not just another news report to be read, discussed briefly, shared on social media, and forgotten with the next headline. It is a tragedy that should shake the conscience of every human being. What was buried was not only a child full of innocence, dreams, and hope, but also a part of our humanity, morality, and collective soul.
A little girl had stepped out with the Holy Quran towards a darsgah (school of learning Quran) with trust in society and faith in safety. Like countless children across Kashmir, she left home under the comforting belief that she would return to the loving arms of her family. Instead, she became the victim of unspeakable brutality. One cannot even begin to imagine the terror, helplessness, and pain that innocent child endured in her final moments.
The question haunting every parent today is simple yet terrifying: Are our children safe anymore?
Kashmir was once known as “Peer Vaer” — a land associated with spirituality, moral values, mutual respect, God-fearing people, and compassion. People once believed that every daughter of the neighbourhood was their collective responsibility. Doors remained open, trust existed among communities, and children walked fearlessly to schools, playgrounds, and darsgahs.
Today, however, we stand at a dangerous moral crossroads. Where are we heading as a society, and what have we lost along the way?
We often speak proudly about development, modernization, technology, careers, and material success, but rarely pause to ask an essential question: What values are we giving our children? What kind of environment are we creating where even innocent minors cannot feel safe?
A society that neglects moral upbringing, compassion, respect for women, accountability, and fear of wrongdoing ultimately begins to create monsters within itself.
This tragedy is not an isolated crime. It is a reflection of a deeper social sickness that has lost both moral and religious sensitivities. Education without ethics, freedom without responsibility, and progress without morality can never build a healthy civilization. Degrees alone do not create humanity. Economic growth alone cannot protect society from collapse. True progress lies in character, empathy, accountability, and moral discipline. The mindset behind such crimes needs to be evaluated, and a root-cause analysis must be done on these pervasive behaviours. There is neither fear of God nor fear of law.
We must introspect honestly. Have we failed to inculcate basic human values in the next generation? Have we normalised vulgarity, violence, misogyny, drugs, crime, and insensitivity to such an extent that conscience itself is dying?
Have we become so consumed by self-interest and distraction that we no longer feel responsible for the safety of others? The rise in drug abuse, pornography, criminal behaviour, and moral decay is no longer hidden. These are not disconnected social problems; they are interconnected symptoms of a society slowly losing its moral compass. Substance abuse destroys judgment, weakens restraint, fuels aggression, and dehumanizes individuals. When combined with unchecked exposure to violent and perverse content, it creates dangerous minds capable of horrifying crimes.
Yet perhaps even more dangerous than criminals themselves is the silence of society.
Evil triumphs when good people remain silent, indifferent, and insensitive to the suffering around them.
We have become spectators to our own decline. We express outrage for a few days on social media, share emotional posts, demand justice, and then gradually return to normal routines while the deeper problems remain untouched. Silence, indifference, and societal apathy indirectly strengthen evil.
The tragic murder of this innocent girl in Budgam district has shaken the entire Kashmir Valley. The incident has rightly triggered outrage and condemnation from every corner of society.
Hon’ble LG Sahib, Mr. Manoj Sinha, strongly condemned the brutal killing and termed it a heinous crime against humanity. He directed police authorities to conduct a thorough and time-bound investigation and assured that those responsible would face exemplary punishment. He also expressed solidarity with the grieving family and emphasized that such crimes will not go unpunished.
Similarly, Ms. Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, voiced the anguish felt across Kashmir on her X account, questioning what kind of society we are becoming if even minor children cannot remain safe. Her words reflected the collective shock, pain, and fear now gripping society.
The efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and investigators are being closely watched, and people hope justice is delivered swiftly and transparently. Society expects a strong legal response that sends an unmistakable warning to predators hiding among us, because crimes against children demand absolute zero tolerance.
No punishment can ever truly heal the unbearable pain of the family or restore the innocent life that has been lost forever. Yet justice remains essential — not out of revenge, but out of responsibility toward society and future generations.
As a voice of civil society and someone who has consistently advocated for meaningful social reform, I firmly believe that crimes against innocent children demand the strongest lawful response. Justice must be swift, visible, and uncompromising so that fear of punishment deters those who prey upon innocence.
A society that fails to protect its children stands at the edge of moral collapse. But punishment alone will not solve this crisis.
We must also rebuild the moral foundations of society. Educational institutions and religious preachers should not leave awareness, moral education, and character-building solely to law enforcement agencies. Parents must become more involved in the emotional and moral upbringing of children. Schools must teach empathy, ethics, and social responsibility alongside academic excellence. Religious institutions must actively address issues of violence, addiction, pornography, and declining morality instead of limiting themselves to ritual sermons alone. Community leaders, teachers, doctors, psychologists, social activists, and law enforcement agencies must work collectively to create safer environments for children.
Children should also be educated about personal safety, boundaries, and the confidence to report threats without fear or shame. Communities must become vigilant and responsive. Neighbours must care again. Streets must feel protective again. Society must rediscover humanity before it is too late.
What makes this tragedy even more heartbreaking is that it occurred during sacred days when people are engaged in taubah, istighfar, prayer, and spiritual reflection. Yet despite the religious atmosphere, such horrifying brutality still occurred. This should force us to realize that rituals without moral transformation cannot save society.
Religion without humanity becomes hollow. Development without ethics becomes dangerous. Freedom without responsibility becomes destructive. And silence in the face of evil becomes complicity.
Budgam is not merely a crime scene. It is a mirror reflecting the painful collapse of social conscience. If our daughters live in fear, then our claims of morality, culture, and civilization mean very little. Today, every parent in Kashmir feels wounded. Every sensitive soul feels disturbed. Every conscience should feel restless.
The tears of this innocent child should not disappear into statistics, headlines, or political statements. They should become a turning point — a collective awakening for society.
Justice for Bint-e-Hawa! Because if we fail to wake up now, more daughters will continue to become victims of our silence, our negligence, and our moral decline.
Kudos to Budgam Police SSP and his team, as well as the administration, for nabbing one suspect. Hopefully, they will not rest until the case is taken to its logical conclusion.
May the innocent child rest in eternal peace. May Almighty Allah grant her the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous, provide strength and patience to her grieving family, and ensure that those responsible face justice in this world and the Hereafter.
And may society finally find the courage not only to mourn — but also to change.
(Author is a senior columnist who contributes on civil issues and social reforms.)
