PRESS RELEASE
DATED:06-12-2008

J&K High court Bar Association strongly condemns the gang rape of one Fehmida aged 13 years D/o Mohammad Abdul Khattana Resident of Dandipora Kokernag by the troops of 62 RR stationed in the area. In an extra ordinary meeting of the J&K High Court Bar Association serious note was taken about the incident and the Bar Association has decided to send a team on spot to take firsthand account of the bizarre incident. Further is was decided that the Bar shalld approach the Hon’ble High Court with an appropriate writ petition for bringing the culprits to book.

The Bar Association has rejected the magisterial probe in the incident by Tehsildar Kokernag as ordered by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag in the matter and demands judicial enquiry in the matter by sitting High Court Judge of the J&K High court. It has come to the notice of the Bar Association that the troopers of 62 RR and the local administration is threatening the family of the victim and the villagers besides advising the family members, the victim and the villagers to distract from their statements and in this behalf the concerned enquiry officer namely Tehsildar Kokernag is acting under duress and the magisterial enquiry is influenced by the higher ups in the Army and bureaucracy to hash up the matter like other bizarre incidents of like nature from time to time.

Therefore, the magisterial enquiry is without any essence and an open deceit with the victim. Bar Association is equally concerned with the deployment of the said forces in the area who were time and again involved in such incidents in the past and without any judicial action against the culprits. Bar Association is of the opinion that since the gang rape of the minor by the security forces is in no way a sovereign function as such the culprits should have been arrested and brought to justice. Since the administration is type lipped in the matter and the culprits are rooming at large and this inaction on the part of administration and the law enforcing agencies is condemnable and accordingly the Bar Association appeals to all human rights agencies to come to the rescue of the victim and their family members to save them from the wrath of the troops.

In the meeting, the innumerable complaints are received by the Bar Association from South Kashmir about the excesses perpetuated by the Army, Task force and other police agencies, and serious note was taken about the coercive measures adopted by the army and security agencies in the prefix of the coming elections in the area. All Numberdars, Chokidars and released detainees and other respectable persons from respective villages are being called by the local Army camps and are being threatened with serious consequences in case there is low turnover of voters in their respective villages. This action on the part of troopers is illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic and condemnable by all stretches of democratic morality. Bar Association seeks international and local intervention in these circumstances to prevent the high handedness of the Army and other security agencies in South Kashmir and appeals the people to resist the high handedness of the Army and other security agencies.

G.N. Shaheen
General Secretary,
J&K High Court Bar Association.
Dated : 06.12.2008