Kunan Poshpora: Residents of this small hamlet in north Kashmir, which witnessed, one the worst incidents in the history of Kashmir, mass rape during the intervening night of February 23 and 24 in 1991 by the troopers of 4 Raj Rifles of 68 Brigade, on Sunday accused authorities of hushing up the case. They demanded case be reopened and justice be done. Locals said that after the incident many civil and police officials turned up and promised that erring troopers would be punished. Even police lodged an FIR under section 376, 452 and 342 at Thregam police station against them. “Eighteen years have since the FIR was registered but neither have been the accused booked nor charge sheeted,” locals said, adding, “Case has been closed and hushed up. It should be reopened and culprits should be punished.” Sadness in the eyes of women in this small hamlet in north Kashmir is a grim reminder of what happened on that night, as the memories of the mass rape are still fresh in their minds. Recalling that night, villagers said the troopers in inebriated state cordoned off the village and asked men to assemble in an open ground. “We were paraded and tortured throughout the night under open sky,” they said, adding, “ Troopers barged into our houses and outraged the chastity of our women irrespective of age. They didn’t even spare a 5-year-old child and 95-year-old lady. It seemed that they were drugged. Those who tried to save the dignity and honour of their sisters, mothers and wives were beaten mercilessly by the troopers.” A victim Saja Begum (name changed) said, “A group of eight to 10 troopers barged into our house and attacked me. I pleaded before them that I was pregnant but they showed no mercy. After few days I gave birth to a baby with a fractured arm.”
Handwara, Nov 7: The alleged gang rape of a 10-year-old girl and her mother by Rashtriya Rifles troops sparked off massive protest demonstrations in this border town of Kupwara district on Sunday. Though State Government has ordered a magisterial probe, the Army denies the charges. Over six thousand people held strong protests at Kralgund and blocked Varmul-Handwara highway for over five hours. They raised slogans against the troops of 31 RR who, they alleged, raped 10-year-old Shabnam Rashid and her mother Aashia Begum, 29, wife of Abdur Rashid Dar, at Bader Payeen village of Handwara on Saturday night. The troopers, the protesters said, led by a Major barged into the house of Abdul Rashid Dar at Bader Payen and separated male and female members of the family. "The troopers then pounced on Aashia Begum, a mother of six children and repeatedly raped her. They later took her daughter Shabnam in other room and gang raped her too," the protesters said.
This is the reality about indian occupation of kashmir, the human rights violation and this is what they call democracy. The plight and agony of the people of kashmir is very much true. Every one has a right to live with respect,dignity and without any fear but in kashmir its not possible, even the chastity of our sisters and mothers is never safe. The people of Kashmir are living in a "Paradise made hell" and the responsible party for making the once paradise into a living hell is India.. The people of Kashmir deserve to Live free, they deserve to live a peaceful and prosperous life.. FREE KASHMIR
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