Kulgam woman alleges gang-rape by Indian Army, Case Filed Against Army

Victim Records Statement Before MoS Home, DGP; Case Filed Against Army

 Damhal Hanjipora (Kulgam), July 21: Protests erupted in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday after a woman was allegedly gang raped by army personnel. The victim recorded her statement before Minister of State for Home and Director General of Police who flew to the area after massive protests.

POLICE REGISTERS CASE “Police have registered a case FIR No:-66/2011 under section 366,376-RPC in Police Station Damhal Hanji Pora, into an alleged abduction and rape of a lady,” a police spokesman said in a statement.“At about 1300 hours one Rukaya Banoo wife of Muhammad Lateef Bhat of Gujjardhar Manzgam, presently at Bhek-Chiranbal, came to Police Sation D H Pora accompanied by her brother- in-law and reported that on July 19 (Tuesday), at about 7 pm 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. There were some utensils and one of them would make tea in another dhok. They would take biscuits and didn’t give anything to her. Both of them were sporting beard. They would talk to her in Gojri, and with each other the exchanged different languages. They left her today morning and she reached her home and informed her brother in law-Shah Wali Bhat the whole incident,” the spokesman added.“On this report, Police have registered a case and a Special Investigation Team has been constituted to investigate the matter,” he added.The team, sources said, is headed by Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kulgam, Muhammad Shafi Mir. He will be assisted by DySP and  Station House Officer (SHO) Damhal Hanjipora.Meanwhile, Family members of the victim said that on Tuesday evening she had gone to perform ablution nearby her hut before she could go for evening prayers, when two army men allegedly abducted her. “The army personnel after taking her along kept her confined in a hut in the nearby Kadalbal forests for nearly 36 hours till Thursday morning,” they alleged, adding that she returned home this morning alleging that she was gang raped by the soldiers.Quoting the victim, the family said the army men before leaving her threatened her of dire consequences in case she reported the incident to any one.“I can identify both the army men,” the family members quoted the victim as having said.They said the victim was in a state of shock and returned to her home while dragging herself from the forests.As the word about the gang rape spread in the area, hundreds of people including women and children took to streets at Manzgam village and staged pro-freedom demonstrations.The protesters were demanding stringent action against the accused soldiers. People burnt tyres on roads as a mark of protest while the shops were closed and traffic was halted. Police reached the spot and assured the people of stern action against the culprits.VICTIM RECORDS STATEMENT BEFORE MOS HOME, DGPMinister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, and Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, immediately flew to the village and met the victim. The victim reiterated her statement in presence of MoS Home, DGP, DC Kulgam and Social Welfare Minister and local MLA Sakina Itoo.“I can identify the soldiers. They were in uniform and had guns and wireless sets with them,” the victim told the dignitaries.Incidentally, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayed were both present in Kulgam district on Thursday and addressed parallel rallies.ASP Kulgam, Muhammad Shafi Mir, told Greater Kashmir, “The victim’s medical examination has been conducted at the district hospital Kulgam and a DNA examination will also be done,” Mir said.Army spokesman Lt Col JS Brar told Greater Kashmir, “Allegations have been made. Police is probing the matter.”MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami condemned the incident and demanded a magisterial inquiry to probe the allegations of the woman.Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded a thorough probe into the incident.Condemning the incident, a PDP spokesman said this was yet another instance of lawlessness that has made lives and honour of the people insecure. He said such incidents are on a rise and the government seems to be ignoring the atrocities that are committed almost every day on the weak and vulnerable.The spokesman said a thorough probe and investigations must be taken up immediately into the incident. Full facts should be brought out and the culprits involved in this and earlier such incidents should be brought to book and given severe punishment.