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Alleged Molestation Attempt By Indian Soldiers in Kashmir Evokes Protests

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Aug 3: An alleged attempt by Indian soldiers to molest a 45 year old woman in North Kashmir on Thursday evening evoked a massive protest demonstration from the local population. A top police officer said that they received the complaint while an Indian army spokesman in Srinagar denied that Indian soldiers made a bid on the chastity of a woman.

Reports said that the Indian army counter insurgency unit, 29 Rashtria Rifles had laid an ambush in Trambgund area, Sopore in the North Kashmir district of Baramulla, Thursday evening. "Unknown of the soldier's ambush, a 45 year old woman identified as Jana Begum wife of Sonaullah Dar was working in her fields", the residents of the area said.

They alleged that the Indian army personnel surrounded her and tried to outrage her modesty. The woman raised an alarm and after hearing her cries and shrieks, her son, Showket Ahmad rushed to the spot to rescue her. The soldiers, according to residents, caught hold of him and beat him mercilessly from their gunbutts and bamboo sticks.

"After hearing the woman's screams, her neighbours rushed to the spot and rescued her from the clutches of the soldiers", the residents said, adding, "Soldiers fled away from the spot".

The news about an attempt by Indian soldiers to outrage the modesty of a woman spread like a jungle fire in the village and people in their hundreds came out on roads in the evening and staged a massive protest demonstration on Srinagar-Baramulla highway. Raising anti-forces, anti-India and pro-freedom slogans, the protestors were demanding a stern action against the guilty soldiers.

"Indian soldiers deployed in the area have unleashed a reign of terror and don't allow us to work in the fields. They beat us without any reason or justification and now they have made an attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman", the protesters said.

Later, top civil officials rushed to the spot and assured the protestors that the matter would be looked into. A top police officer of North Kashmir said police received a complaint. "There are allegations of molestation against the soldiers but we don't know how far the allegations are true", the police officer said adding, "We are looking into the matter."

Indian Army spokesman in Srinagar, Lt Col V K Mathur, however, denied the charge. "Soldiers didn't even touch the woman. Allegations of molestation are baseless", he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the incident has taken place more than a month after two soldiers were caught by people while making an attempt to molest a woman in Bandipora area in North Kashmir. The two accused soldiers were beaten by people in full public view and handed over to police. The accused soldiers are presently under the detention of the army, for Court of Inquiry.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.