Firdous Syed: Is this the spark for another summer of unrest in J&K?

Is this the time to mourn the ‘lost chastity’ of an innocent woman, or an occasion to censure the inhuman attitude of vested interests? On July 21, a woman from Kulgam, South Kashmir, accompanied by her two brothers-in-law, lodged a report at the Damhal Hanjipora police station that “on July 19, at about 7pm, when she was returning from a nearby spring to her home, two people in uniform appeared in her way. Both were carrying weapons and forced her to accompany them to the jungle. The duo kept her in a dhok (mud dwelling) and raped her.” According to her she was only left “on the morning of July 21”.

Once the locals came to know about the incident, ‘massive protests’ broke out.  The state home minister and the director general of police rushed in a helicopter to the troubled spot and met the victim and her family. The lady reiterated her statement before them. Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo, also the local MLA, was present.

“I can identify the soldiers. They were in uniform and had guns and wireless sets with them,” the alleged victim said. The police registered a case under sections of the 366,376-IPC; a Special Investigation Team headed by an additional superintendent of police has been entrusted with the task of carrying out the investigations.

Nobody seems to be interested in a fair investigation; the conflicting interests groups have already drawn their conclusions. Government agencies are desperate to prove that no rape took place, and that even if it did, security personnel were not involved.

The separatists, as usual looking for an opportunity to create disturbances, have jumped to the conclusion that the lady was “gang-raped by the army”.

In his initial reaction, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, ‘The guilty in alleged abduction and rape incident at Kulgam won’t be spared.’ Significantly, Omar added: ‘The size of army unit in the area is less than 20-strong, so identification parade won’t be a problem. Guilty won’t be spared either AFSPA or no AFSPA.’

Lieutenant General SA Hasnain, GOC 15th Corps, also assured his cooperation: “I want to make it clear that this is an allegation and if there is truth in it, then it is a criminal act that warrants strict action against the guilty.” He apparently dragged his feet on the issue of identification parade; it would depend on ‘legality.’ Pertinently despite the chief minister’s assurance, the identification parade has not taken place so far.

Meanwhile, a video of the alleged rape victim has been posted on YouTube.  The incoherent lady, while making her statement before the police, is shown contradicting her earlier statements; she maintains that she was abducted by an individual and kept hostage but denies the rape. The police may deny that they had any hand in the video being posted. But they cannot escape the responsibility of making public the report of the victim’s preliminary medical investigation. The report says, ‘No marks of violence or resistance on any part of the body especially on her private parts.’ CPI(M) lawmaker Brinda Karat, part of a visiting parliamentary delegation for women empowerment, has criticised the premature release of the report, saying, “It is an illegal act, which is not permissible under the law. It is extremely detrimental to the dignity of the rape victim.” Adding to the confusion, the victim’s husband and mother-in-law declared that “she is suffering from mental illness and was at home at the time” of her alleged abduction.

While selective leaks are being made, the media has been denied access to the rape victim. Even the parliamentary delegation has been denied permission to visit the area, on the pretext that “the investigation was in progress.” Yet the administration has no qualms in managing the selective leaks that can influence the probe. Moreover the locals also allege that the hamlet has been put under unannounced curfew for last three days. In the backdrop of the past three years of continued unrest, it’s understandable that the government is keen to minimise the risk of any unrest. Yet the hyper-sensitive approach has an opposite effect and people are forced to believe that government is up to some cover-up. Trouble in Kashmir is always just an incident away.