Army orders probe into 145;molestation146; bid

The Army has ordered a court of inquiry into the alleged molestation of a girl by its soldiers in Bandipore on Tuesday. The Commander of the Army8217;s 15 Corp today said action...

The Army has ordered a court of inquiry into the alleged molestation of a girl by its soldiers in Bandipore on Tuesday. The Commander of the Army8217;s 15 Corp today said action would be taken against soldiers if found guilty. Even as the J-K police lodged an FIR against the soldiers in the case, the Army has filed a counter FIR against the villagers.

8220;We have ordered a court of inquiry. We don8217;t condone any mistake and we will take action against soldiers, if their fault is proved,8221; said Corps Commander, 15 Corp, Lt Gen A S Sekhon.

The J-K Police has formally registered an FIR against the soldiers. 8220;We have registered a case against the Havildar and the Lance Naik and they are with us,8221; Baramulla Senior Superintendent of Police Viplaw Kumar said. On the FIR filed by the Army at Bandipore, a police official said that the Army has stated that the soldiers were on a bonafide search operation when they were assaulted to help the militants escape.

On Tuesday, the villagers of Kunan caught two Armymen, who were posing as militants and had entered a house in civies. They allegedly tried to molest a girl there. The villagers beat up the two, shaved off their heads and ripped their clothes before bringing them to Bandipore in a procession.

8220;We were sitting together when they soldiers called us,8221; said Mir Jan, mother of the girl. 8220;They were posing as militants and asked for food. They told me to go out so that they could search the house, but told my daughter to stay inside. Suddenly, there was a noise and when I rushed in, I saw her clothes were torn.8221;

Her statement was corroborated by Mohammad Zaman Khan, an eyewitness. 8220;I heard some noise. When I rushed in, I saw the two soldiers and the girl8217;s clothes were torn,8221; he said.

Bandipore and its adjacent villages today observed a complete shutdown to protest against the incident. The villagers of Kunan held a protest demonstration in front of the Bandipore Police Station. They were dispersed only after the police assured them of action in the case.

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The alleged molestation has also been condemned by politicians of the Valley. Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed called for a probe into the incident and reiterated the party8217;s demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. 8220;There should be a high level impartial probe into the incident at Bandipore and the guilty personnel should be punished to restore the confidence of the public,8221; he said. 8220;The Union and the state Government should take immediate remedial measures and prevent the recurrence of such incidents.8221;

National Conference President Omar Abdullah and CPI leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami too condemned the incident.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More