Thaindian News

Srinagar, July 24 (IANS) The parade of army personnel to identify the alleged accused who raped and abducted a woman in south Kashmir was postponed Sunday, even as Marxist leader Brinda Karat demanded suspension of a policeman for releasing a video of the victim while she was giving her statement.

“The identification parade of army personnel deployed in (Manzgam area) would be held at the appropriate time. The investigations are still in the preliminary stage,” a police officer told IANS.

He said a special investigation team (SIT) of police formed to probe the incident had collected circumstantial evidence from the spot where the 30-year-old married tribal woman was allegedly raped by two army personnel.

“Vaginal swabs and other necessary samples of the victim have been sent for forensic examination and we are expecting the report tomorrow (Monday),” the officer added.

Police guards have been placed at the victim’s home in Gujjardara Manzgam village in Kulgam district.

Police sources say that senior army officials had been requested to ensure that none of their personnel — on counter insurgency duties in the area — leave before participating in the identification parade. The parade might be carried out Tuesday.

Senior police officers refused to confirm media reports that say the victim’s husband and mother-in-law had told the probe team that she was suffering from mental illness and had been on treatment.

The officers also did not confirm the report that the family had told the investigators that victim had not been missing from home for two days. The victim has alleged that she was abducted for two days.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Bindra Karat has demanded a fair probe into the incident.

Karat, who is a member of the parliamentary delegation for women empowerment and presently in Srinagar, has also demanded immediate suspension of a police officer for releasing a video clip and the preliminary medical report of the victim.

“It is an illegal act which is not permissible under the law. It is extremely detrimental to the dignity of the rape victim. The government should immediately take action against the police officer responsible for the act,” Karat told a local English daily here Saturday.

Police had on Friday released a video clip of the victim while her statement was being recorded at the police station. Later, copies of her preliminary medical examination were also released, asserting there were no injury marks on her body.

Karat said the release of material was an act to influence the investigations and it was against the protocol in the country.

South Kashmir’s Kulgam constituency is represented by Yusuf Tarigami, the lone CPI-M legislator in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly.