The Hindu : National : Mehbooba assures action against accused Army officer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004

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National

Mehbooba assures action against accused Army officer

By Our Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, NOV. 9. After the separatist leaders from Syed Ali Geelani to Yasin Malik and Sheik Aziz, today it was the turn of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, to visit Badre Payeen village in Handwara area of north Kashmir, where a mother-daughter duo was allegedly raped by Army personnel on Saturday night.

The Army authorities and the State Government have ordered separate inquiries into the incident and the accused officer has been moved out of the area.

Strong protests

The Valley has seen fervent protests over the last two days. Lawyers, students and separatist leaders held demonstrations and demanded an impartial judicial inquiry. "Let us all come into open," shouted hundreds of lawyers, who marched from the High Court to Sadder Court to protest against the incident, which they described as a "war crime." The lawyers, led by the president of the High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayyum, called for a mass uprising. "We should not behave like silent spectators. Our sisters and mothers are being dishonoured. Let us come out from slumber to save our honour. We have had enough," the lawyers said. "If we do not raise our voices this time, we don't have any right to live."

Comforts family

Ms. Mehbooba, who is also a Member of Parliament, condemned the incident and assured the aggrieved family, on behalf of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, that the guilty would be punished. She expressed solidarity with the family of the rape victims.

Ms. Mehbooba said her party was with the people and added that such injustices and atrocities would no longer be tolerated.

The PDP would work to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

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