Rape Bid Sparks Massive protests in Bandipur

Bashaarat Masood
Kashmir : Police files FIR against the two; counter FIR by Army against villagers

SRINAGAR/BANDIPORE, JUNE 27 : The Army has ordered a court of inquiry into the alleged molestation of a girl by its soldiers in Bandipore on Tuesday. The Commander of the Army’s 15 Corp today said action would be taken against soldiers if found guilty. Even as the J-K police lodged an FIR against the soldiers in the case, the Army has filed a counter FIR against the villagers.

“We have ordered a court of inquiry. We don’t condone any mistake and we will take action (against soldiers), if their fault is proved,” said Corps Commander, 15 Corp, Lt Gen A S Sekhon.

The J-K Police has formally registered an FIR against the soldiers. “We have registered a case against the Havildar and the Lance Naik and they are with us,” Baramulla Senior Superintendent of Police Viplaw Kumar said. On the FIR filed by the Army at Bandipore, a police official said that the Army has stated that the soldiers were on a bonafide search operation when they were assaulted to help the militants escape.

On Tuesday, the villagers of Kunan caught two Armymen, who were posing as militants and had entered a house in civies. They allegedly tried to molest a girl there. The villagers beat up the two, shaved off their heads and ripped their clothes before bringing them to Bandipore in a procession.

“We were sitting together when they (soldiers) called us,” said Mir Jan, mother of the girl. “They were posing as militants and asked for food. They told me to go out so that they could search the house, but told my daughter to stay inside. Suddenly, there was a noise and when I rushed in, I saw her clothes were torn.”

Her statement was corroborated by Mohammad Zaman Khan, an eyewitness. “I heard some noise. When I rushed in, I saw the two soldiers and the girl’s clothes were torn,” he said.

Bandipore and its adjacent villages today observed a complete shutdown to protest against the incident. The villagers of Kunan held a protest demonstration in front of the Bandipore Police Station. They were dispersed only after the police assured them of action in the case.

The alleged molestation has also been condemned by politicians of the Valley. Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed called for a probe into the incident and reiterated the party’s demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. “There should be a high level impartial probe into the incident at Bandipore and the guilty (personnel) should be punished to restore the confidence of the public,” he said. “The Union and the state Government should take immediate remedial measures and prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”

National Conference President Omar Abdullah and CPI leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami too condemned the incident.

Muslim leaders criticize presidential nominee for asking Indian women to stop using veil

isn't this humorous..!

LUCKNOW, India (AP) - Muslim leaders demanded Tuesday that India's governing coalition replace its presidential nominee after she urged women to stop wearing veils, which she said were introduced to protect women from Muslim invaders centuries ago.

Several Muslim leaders called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to find a new candidate for the largely ceremonial post of president, after accusing Pratibha Patil of insulting Islam.

The controversy over Patil's remarks erupted even before she filed her nomination for the presidential election, due in July. The cut-off for nominations is June 30.

Maulana Khalid Rashid, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said it was God who had asked women to wear a veil and that this was enshrined in the Quran, the Muslim holy book. The board is the highest body of the Muslims in India on laws governing personal matters.
«Any statement against the veil means an opinion against Allah and the Quran which no Muslim will tolerate,» Rashid told The Associated Press.

Addressing a conference in the northwestern city of Udaipur over the weekend, Patil said women started using veils in India to save themselves from Mughal invaders in the 16th century, The Times Of India newspaper reported. She asked women to stop wearing veils.

Muslims account for nearly 14 percent of India's nearly 1.1. billion people. Conservative Muslim women wear headscarves and face-covering veils.

Maulana Hasanul Badr, a Muslim cleric, said it was the duty of Muslim women to cover their bodies.

«Why do politicians interfere in our religious matters? It has become a fashion to pass judgment on Islam,» he said.

«The statement is a clear reflection of Patil's mind-set about Islam and Muslims. It is better that the United Progressive Alliance change its presidential candidate and opt for a more secular person for this post,» he said.

Orthodox Hindu women also cover their faces in the presence of elderly male members of the family.

Maulana Mehmood Madani, general secretary of Ulema-i-Hind, a Muslim organization, accused Patil of twisting history.

«She must apologize and withdraw her observations,» The Times Of India newspaper quoted Madani as saying.