SRINAGAR, JULY 21: A young woman has accused two Indian army men of "abduction and rape" in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Police has registered a case formed SIT to investigate the case while MoS Home Nasir Aslam Wani has assured that guilty persons will be punished
Official sources said a young woman (name withheld) hailing from Gujjardara-Manzgam in Kulgam district alleged that she was abducted by some army personnel from Kheranbal Behak on July 19 and gang-raped. She said that she was released last night by the Indian army men. The woman, according to her family members, left her residence on early Tuesday morning for ablution. “However, she did not return. After three days, the woman returned and alleged that she was abducted and gang raped by army men,” they said.
Police has registered FIR No 66/2011 under section 376 at Police Station Damhaal Hanjipora.
After coming to know about the incident, senior police officers rushed to the concerned police station in Kulgam and recorded her statement. DIG South Kashmir Range, Shafqat Watali said the woman recorded her statement before police and alleged that she was raped by two Army men. “We have recorded her statement and her medical examination will be conducted,” he said. He said case of rape and abduction has been filed in the concerned police station.DIG said they have also talked to General Officer Commanding Victor Force and he assured full cooperation from Army’s side in the probe.
Meanwhile, tension gripped Damhal Hanjipora as people came out on roads and held protest demonstrations. Chanting anti-army slogans, the protestors were demanding stern action against the erring army men. “The guilty army men should be identified and punished so that such acts don’t recur in future,” they said.
Sources said sensing the sensitivity of the issue, Sakina Itoo, Minister for Social Welfare, who is also MLA D H Pora alongwith Minister of State for Home Affairs Nasir Aslam Wani, Director General of Police Kuldip Khoda and ADGP K Rajendra reached Damhal Hanjipora and interacted with the people.
They said Itoo told people that investigations into the case have been initiated and anyone found guilty will be punished under law.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nasir Aslam Wani told Rising Kashmir that he met the woman and recorded her allegations. “We have directed police to file an FIR and take up investigations. We have directed police to thoroughly investigate the matter. Whosoever is found guilty will be punished,” he said.
Sources said a team of senior army officials was deputed by GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen S A Hasnian to the area to ascertain the facts.
A police spokesman in a statement issued in the evening said, “At about 1 pm, Rukaya accompanied by her brother in law reported that on July 19 (Tuesday), at about 7 in the evening, when she was returning from a nearby spring to her home, two persons in security force uniform appeared in her way. Both were carrying weapons and forced her to accompany them to Jungle. The duo kept her in a dhok and raped her. They were talking to her in Gojri and left her this morning. She reached her home and informed her brother in law-Shah Wali Bhat about the whole incident”.
He said Police Station Damhal Hanjipora have registered a case. “A Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, opposition Peoples Democratic Party has demanded a thorough probe in the case.
Condemning the incident, a PDP spokesman said this was yet another instance of lawlessness that has made lives and honor of the people insecure. “Such incidents were on a rise,” he said and demanded a thorough probe and investigations into the incident. He said full facts should be brought out and culprits involved in this crime should be brought to book and given severe punishment.
CPI (M) State Secretary and MLA Kulgam Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said the case must be thoroughly investigated and culprits brought to book. “There should be no leniency in the investigation,” he said and demanded a judicial probe. (With inputs from PTI, KNS)
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