Not helping matters is Army rape case; biggest blow, says Mehbooba

The Army said it had ‘‘removed the officer (Major Rehman Hussain) from the command’’ and now three separate probes—one by the Army—have been initiated. But despite assurances by the Mufti government as well as the Army that stern action will be taken against the officer, protests across the Valley continued.

A mob stoned a vehicle in Mehbooba’s cavalcade soon after she left the Badra Payeen village in Handwara. The police and Army fired in the air and resorted to lathicharge when Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Abdul Majid Khanday was encircled by villagers. Four villagers and two policemen were injured.

Police also threw teargas shells and caned protesting students at Kashmir University and other educational institutions in the city. The students burnt down a police jeep. Eight students were injured in the police action.

Priliminary findings of the medical team suggest that both the mother and daughter were raped—Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had earlier confirmed the rape of only the mother. Sources reveal that the preliminary report has found that the hymen of the 10-year-old girl was broken and the marks on her body suggested sexual assault. ‘‘We are saying that the medical report has confirmed the rape of the mother,’’ Kupwara Deputy Commissioner Khanday told The Indian Express. ‘‘And yes, the doctors have found (the daughter’s) hymen was broken and marks on her body.’’

The Mufti government, which came to power on the promise of a ‘‘healing touch’’ policy, fighting human rights abuses by the armed forces, is looking for cover. The state government has set up a magisterial inquiry, a four-member Special Investigative Team of the J-K Police is also probing the incident while the Army too has ordered its own investigation. To ensure that the probe is impartial, a deputy superintendent of police has been included in the Army probe team.

Mehbooba said: ‘‘We feel ashamed. How will we go before the people? This was never expected to happen while we were in government.’’ She added that ‘‘such injustices will not be tolerated’’.

The state government also had meetings with the Corps Commander of the Army’s 15 Corps. ‘‘It was decided that a speedy probe will be conducted,’’ a statement issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Khursheed Ganai and Inspector General Police, Kashmir, Javid Makhdoomi said. ‘‘The officer has been removed from the command till the probe is completed.’’ An army spokesman said that ‘‘the Major (Major Rehman) has been shifted out so that an impartial inquiry can be held. And if found guilty, stern action will be taken.’’

However, there are hardly any takers for these assurances. The separatists—across the hawk-dove divide—are targeting both the Centre as well as the Mufti government. ‘‘How can there be a peace process when such brutal incidents continue to take place here?’’ JKLF leader Yasin Malik said. Syed Ali Shah Geelani said that ‘‘rape is being used as a weapon of war in Kashmir”.