On Oct.10+11, 92 around midnight a platoon size patrol of 22 grenadiers battalion descended upon the village Chak Saidapura, 4 km from Shopian, district Pulwana, Kashmir to conduct a search for hidden militants, The operation lasted for one and a half to two hours during which the uniformed soldiers of the Indian army lead by their junior commissioned officers joined in spree of rape and molestation of helpless Kashmiri women and young girls. One of the victims was an 11 year old named Ziatoon. At least six and possibly nine village women suffered ignomy at the hands of army personal.
Amnesty International reports that it received testimony of several women who were either raped or witnessed the act. One woman said, “They came at night and took my husband away. Two stood outside, they did not search but raped me. He took my clothes off. They were army soldiers.” Another woman reported that two of her daughters-in-law were raped in her presence and told a journalist,” “Four army men came. They had orders to search (they said) they made my brothers and father go out We have orders (to do this) they said. (I said) shoot me but don’t rape me.”
On the morning of Oct.11, a local policeman of the Shopian police station brought eight of the village women to the sub district hospital, Shopian, Seven of the women were immediately examined by a female doctor, and two women initially reluctant to be examined were medically examined on Oct.14. The medical examination revealed that there was positive evidence of forced intercourse in the case of six of the women including a 60yrold woman and an 11 year old girl, Ziatoon. The girl’s body showed abrasions and bruises. Microscopic tests in the remaining three cases were negative although there were bruises and abrasions on the women’s bodies suggesting that they also had been raped.
The valley newspaper Kashmir Times reported the incident in its columns on Oct.14, 1992 after a group of formalists visited the village soon after the incident.
Army confirmed that a search operation for militants had actually been conducted on Oct.1011 and it lasted for 1 hour and 35 minutes in which four army men were involved. The army statement concludes, “It is therefore inconceivable that four persons could have been involved in rape cases of nine women in different houses” as alleged in a report in the Kashmir Times. Two of the women concerned are wives of “Top militants” and their statements part of a “well-orchestrated disinformation campaign with a view to malign the security forces.” Senior government official admitted that the raid was carried out in violation of regulations prohibiting the army from entering villages during hours of darkness. Civil liberties teams visited the village on Oct.28, 92 and all nine women reported testified under oath that they had been raped by soldiers on night of Oct, 1011. They also said that on Oct.13army officers had come to the village to inquire and noted their statements. However a group of more, junior officers arrived later the same day and threatened the women [0 withdraw their statement. Amnesty International’s concern, In view of the seriousness of the allegations and the contradictions between the army version of events and the testimony provided by the alleged victims, Amnesty International believes that a judicial inquiry should be held promptly to investigate the allegations.
The findings should be punished in full and that all necessary measures are taken to protect witnesses pending the investigation. If the allegations are found to be substantiated, those responsible should be brought to justice, preferably before ordinary course of law, and the victims should be granted full and prompt compensation.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 12, 1993
