‘Solidarity Group’ comprising of independent researchers, professionals, lawyers, students and journalist Wednesday staged a peaceful protest here urging the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to pay immediate attention towards the grave and serious allegation of sexual assault of the minor girl and the consequent ill treatment of the victim and her family members in wrongful police detention.The protesters who assembled in Press Enclave here were carrying placards seeking ‘end impunity to armed forces in Kashmir’, ‘stop sexual harassment,’ ‘stringent punishment to guilty armed forces’, and ‘repeal AFSPA to stop innocent killings.’Pertinently, five civilians, including a 56-year-old woman, were killed and dozens others injured in police and Army firing after protests broke out against the alleged molestation of a schoolgirl by an Army man in Handwara on 12 April this month.
The peaceful protesters said that the detention of the minor girl and her family members are outside the powers of the State and appears to be an attempt to further pressurize the family to withdraw all allegations against the armed forces. They said that the manner in which video has been recorded and then circulated is a gross violation of the special protections afforded to minors particularly during investigation of sexual assault cases. “The actions of the police and the army would necessarily invite criminal prosecution if investigated,” they said.The protesters told CNS that they stand in solidarity with the girl and all other women who face threat of sexual violence at the hands of Indian armed forces and further police intimidation.
While demanding immediate release of the minor girl and her family members from police custody, the protesters demanded that the High Court orders should be implemented regarding the constitution of the Juvenile Justice Board in the State and the Education Minister should take immediate steps to ensure that girl students in all government and private schools across Jammu and Kashmir have access to toilet facilities.They asked the government to investigate and prosecute all the police personnel responsible for ‘abuse and harassment’ of the minor girl in their custody. “Any trial of the Army and police personnel in the alleged sexual assault and subsequent killing be held in a civilian court in a transparent and open manner,” the protesters demanded. (CNS)