Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday expressed shock at the heinous rape of a three year old child in Sumbal area of Bandipora District.

The president of KCCI Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, in a statement, termed the occurrence of the  incident in the Holy Month as an indicator of our society suffering from moral breakdown resulting from cultural changes and the influence of conflict.

Ahmad stated that incidents of sexual violence were alien to our culture and had therefore caused widespread angst and consternation in all sections of the society. “The conscience of the society has been shaken to it’s very core. Whereas we have no doubt that we shall ensure justice will be delivered as swiftly as possible in this case, it is also a time for assessing the reasons for the degradation of social values and taking effective counter measures before our society disintegrates.”

He also warned elements who were trying to give a sectarian color to the incident to refrain from mischievous conspiracies aiming at dividing our society.