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Thursday, Jun 28, 2007
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Soldiers roughed up

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: Protests rocked Bandipore town in north Kashmir for the second consecutive day on Wednesday in protest against the alleged molestation of a girl by two Army officers. The Army denied the charges but ordered a court of inquiry to investigate the matter.

Thousands of people took to the streets raising slogans against the Army. They demanded stern action against the officers. Bandipore town observed a complete shutdown, with people from nearby villages pouring in since early hours.

“It is outrageous that the Army, which claims to protect us, is molesting our girls. We will not tolerate this and they shall have to pay for this,” said a protester. The Army’s version was “unacceptable to us and instead of punishing their men, they are defending them.”

On Tuesday, Maj. Joginder Singh and Naik Daljit Singh allegedly entered the house of Rafiq Gojri at Gujar Pati, Bandipore, and tried to molest his 17-year-old daughter. Both, dressed in civvies and pretending to be militants, were intelligence sleuths working for the 57 Rashtriya Rifles. When the girl raised an alarm, locals rushed to the spot, caught hold of the duo and beat them up. They were stripped and taken to Bandipore on foot. The police then lathicharged the mob and used teargas to rescue the armymen.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police, North Kashmir, B. Sirinivas told The Hindu that the officers were charged with trespass and attempt to rape and were in police custody. “We will take the investigation to its logical conclus ion so that the people are satisfied,” he said.

The situation in Bandipore was under control.

Denying the allegations, the Army said the two men were on a “secret intelligence-gathering mission” and “were made hostage by the people.”

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